News writer
Some people try their luck, and others push it too far. While one Florida woman found herself in handcuffs after stealing stacks of lottery tickets, another lucky player struck gold the right way — walking away with a jaw-dropping $15 million prize.
It's a tale of lottery highs and lows in the Sunshine State, where fortunes can change with the scratch of a ticket — or the snap of handcuffs.
Stealing lottery books
Between February and August 2023, 34-year-old Candace Dingman took 30 lottery books while working as a manager at a Circle K located in Fruitland Park, according to a complaint filed by the Florida Lottery and obtained by WFLA.
The corporate office for Circle K allegedly notified the Florida Lottery about a charge of almost $36,000. This charge included 30 missing lottery books.
Just three days after the lottery books went missing, Dingman went to a lottery office located in Altamonte Springs and turned in a ticket with a $1,000 winning prize, according to authorities.
Arrest was made
During the investigation, officials talked with Dingman, who admitted to removing the lottery books from the Circle K. This resulted in an arrest warrant being issued.
On March 20, 2025, deputies from Seminole County arrested Dingman on an active warrant for stealing nearly $36,000 worth of lottery books and cashing out a winning ticket worth $1,000. She was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility and charged with filing a false lottery claim.
From bad moves to big wins in Florida
While Dingman was trying to steal her way to a big win with Florida Lottery scratchers, another Florida resident did it the proper way and ended up with a huge win.
This week, the Florida Lottery announced that 53-year-old John Eichinger Jr. of Port Orange claimed the top prize of $15 million in the $15,000,000 Gold Rush Multiplier scratch-off game.
Eichinger made his way to the lottery headquarters in Tallahassee to claim his winnings. He opted for the one-time, lump sum payment of $8.97 million after taxes.
Eichinger purchased the $30 scratch-off ticket from Wawa, located at 1031 Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange. For selling the winning ticket, the lucky lottery retailer will receive a $30,000 bonus from the state lottery.
The $15,000,000 Gold Rush Multiplier game debuted in September 2024 and featured four top prizes of $15 million and six prizes of $1 million. After Eichinger claimed his prize, there were still two top prizes remaining to be claimed.
As for those $1 million prizes, one of them was recently claimed at lottery headquarters also. Mykel Lane, 37, of Boca Raton, recently claimed his $1 million prize at the West Palm Beach District Office. He opted for the one-time lump sum payment of $597,700 after taxes.
Lane purchased his $30 ticket from 7-Eleven, located at 20385 State Road 7 in Boca Raton. For selling that winning ticket, the lucky retailer received a $2,000 bonus from the state lottery.
Enjoy playing the Florida Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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