Nebraska’s $300K Lottery Winner Seeks to Quash ‘Fraudulent’ Ticket Felony
A Nebraska gas station manager who reportedly won $300k on a lotto scratch-off before purchasing the ticket wants his lawsuit dropped for lack of proof.
A felony theft by deceit allegation has been brought against Jeremiah Ehlers of Greeley, Nebraska, for falsely claiming a lottery victory in April 2024.
When the Nebraska Lottery first announced that he had won a Diamond Dollars ticket, Ehlers was shown smiling with the customary large novelty check.
Warning Signs
But because they have immediate access to unsold scratch-off tickets, jackpot-winning gas station personnel frequently express concerns with lottery officials. Store staff have also been known to scan a client's ticket, determine it is a winner, tell the customer it isn't, and then fish it out of the trash.
The Rapid Stop district manager was suspicious that Ehlers had been stealing lottery tickets from the Greeley branch where he worked since October 2023, so the victory definitely raised suspicions.
According to court filings, the district manager looked over store security footage that showed Ehlers stealing a Diamond Dollars ticket without paying. He then reportedly determined that this specific ticket was worth $30 after scratching it off and scanning it twice.
According to Nebraska law, all tickets must be purchased in advance of the performance. Ehlers had the procedure back to front, according to the prosecution.
On April 23, 2024, Ehlers accepted the reward, taking home $213K after taxes. A week later, he lost his job.
Arrest of Ehlers
In January 2025, Ehlers was taken into custody. According to court documents, he had already spent around $84,000 on cars, including a 2019 Dodge Ram, house repairs, and personal debts before authorities took nearly $129K from his bank accounts. A judge decided on May 28 that there was sufficient evidence to send the matter to district court.
However, none of this makes sense, according to his attorney. This Wednesday, the lawyer filed a motion in Lancaster County District Court, claiming that the preliminary hearing's evidence was insufficient and did not establish reasonable cause. The motion requests that the court completely drop the charge.
On July 29, a hearing on such move is planned. Ehlers' $300K win—or what's left of it—remains in legal uncertainty until then.
