On March the 11th, 2024, deputies were called to a lottery office after a couple tried to claim a $1 million prize with what turned out to be a fake ticket. What started as a hopeful dream of instant fortune quickly turned into a serious criminal investigation. >> All right. So, just like I said, we're we're here about the ticket. There is a problem with the ticket. >> Okay. >> So, I want to talk to you about it. Okay. So, she's going to tell you a few things and I'll get back to you. >> Um, hang on one second. Okay. So, currently at this moment, because this is an investigation in reference to the ticket, you are not free to leave. >> Okay. So, we're going to talk about it. But in order to I'm going to read you your rights just so that you understand them and then we can talk about it. Okay? So, before we ask you any questions, you must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used as evidence against you in court. You have the right to have a lawyer present while being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, a lawyer will be appointed for you without cost before questioning. If you wish to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering questions at any time. Do you understand that? >> Okay. Spell your first name for me. >> K I R A. >> Okay. You would just sign right there next to your name, please. Good on you. >> Sure. You know that's for >> Oh, yeah. >> We want to talk to you about the ticket cuz it is a large place. >> So, do you know where you bought the ticket? >> I don't remember. I went to every single place. I went like five million places in Deiniac and Freeport to I don't even remember. I had like a whole bunch of them with me. >> Do you play a lot of tickets >> sometimes? Yeah. Occasionally. Here. >> You ever had any big wins? >> Not big. I mean, the only one I've ever won myself was like $100. >> That's pretty good. >> I mean, like, so it's kind of cool, but me myself. No. >> So, what how much do you think this ticket is for? >> I believe it's over a million >> and some. >> Did you play the ticket? >> I did. >> Oh, cool. >> I did. So, were you happy when you thought it went? >> I It doesn't really seem real. I was I was happy and I'm like, but I'm not going to count my blessings. You know, this kind of stuff doesn't happen to me. >> Correct. Right. It's very very unusual, but it's a good win if you can get it, right? >> I mean, it would be great help trying to been through it. >> So, where did that happen? Where did you where were you exactly when you said, "Hey, look, this ticket's a win." >> My house. >> Okay. So, so you're at your house. You played the ticket. Yeah. Did you go scan it anywhere? Did you >> I tried I have tried to scan it like three different places and they were all like, "It doesn't scan. It doesn't scan. It doesn't scan." So, I was like, "Okay, well, what do I do?" >> And I was like, "There's got to be a way." So, they told me to come here. >> A staff member, I'm assuming. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I called up here and they were like, "Yeah, bring it in." And then we came up here and they said, "Okay, fill out your paperwork." >> Does anyone else have a claim to this video? >> I'm going to share it. We're going to split it half and half. Is that the guy over front? >> What is his name? >> Dakota. >> Um, >> when you came here was the other day with the first I I assume, right? >> Yes. >> They had you fill out some paperwork. >> Yes. I I filled out multiple papers. >> Okay. >> So, if I show you a document that has your signature, will you confirm if it is or is not your signature? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. And there's a second document that they ask you to fill out voluntary. It's called a security affidavit. And on the back, >> say your signature. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Where's it at? >> Yeah. I'm sorry. My name, >> right? And so I do have the ticket right here. This is the ticket. I'm not going to let you touch it, but does it look like it? >> Yes. And is that your name on the back there? >> Yes, it is. >> Did you put your name on there? >> I did. >> Okay. >> In the office here. >> Here. Yes. Okay. >> So, let me ask you, how how did the ticket get ripped? >> Okay. So, it was in my car and I guess it had fallen out and I didn't realize when I got out and it was in the rain and I seen it the next day and I was like, "Oh my god." And I tried to scratch it before it was dry and it just was falling apart. And so I was like, "Oh my god, let me tape it so it doesn't fall apart anymore." >> So >> So did you tape it like that? >> I did. Okay. >> And then I was like, "Oh my god, I just didn't want it to get more ruined than it was." As I was scratching it was winning and I was like, "No, no, no." >> Why? I can understand that part for sure. For sure. >> Yeah. >> So this ticket, so I ran this ticket, right? And it originated at Wind Dixie in Defunia Springs. >> That sounds about >> Is that possible? >> It's right by my house. Okay. >> Very possible. When you bought this ticket, did you buy any others? >> I do not remember. It >> I usually buy them in more than one. >> Gotcha. >> So, it's possible, but I can't guarantee that. >> And why this game? Do you like this game? >> I just randomly picked it. >> I gota >> cuz I never get like the I usually get the cheaper ones, you know. >> How much was that ticket? >> $50. >> D. >> I know. I was like, I'm going to give this one a chance. Did you buy it? Do you remember if you bought it with your debit card? >> Uh, no I didn't. I bought it with cash. >> Okay. >> Did you put the ticket so after it was ripped, did you put it back together like this or did somebody else >> No, I did all that. >> Okay. Yeah, >> cool. >> Yeah. And then I was like, "Oh, wait. Maybe I shouldn't do that." >> I like that might mess it up. But I was like, "I can't take it off now." Oh, well. >> Yeah. I got you. >> Is what it is. >> Did you Did you do any other changes to the ticket? >> No. I noticed at the top it's a little high, meaning that somebody cut a part of this off. >> I was trying to take the tape off because I thought it was going to like to sign it and stuff and I was attempting to see what it would do. >> Mhm. >> And I decided that was a bad idea. >> Okay. It is a pretty bad idea. >> Yeah. I was like, let me not ruin that. Let me stop now. >> And and did did anyone else help you? Like if I check the fingerprints underneath this tape, is there any everyone else's fingerprints on there? >> I mean, his might be on it. I mean, as far as I know. >> All right. >> Who knows? >> So, obviously >> dog prints. >> Your dog prints? >> I hope not. I hope not. >> I hope not, too. >> Okay. So, it might be your friends out here. >> I mean, it his fingerprints may be on it. >> Did he put any tape on here? >> No, I did all of it. >> What's your relationship to him? >> He's my boyfriend. >> Boyfriend. How long have y'all been together? a year and some. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, when you initially played, if you bought more than one from that one, Dixie, unless you >> I feel like I did and I didn't even bring them. I had like two or three of them with me. I brought them when I filled out the paperwork. But >> would they be in your car? >> No, they're at the house. >> Okay. >> And they were just not winning at all. >> Mhm. >> But >> Gotcha. >> Yeah. I should have brought them. >> Yeah. >> I thought about bringing them. So the reason we're here is the ticket the problem with the ticket is there's security controls inside the ticket. >> Okay. >> And what the security controls tell me and also what the ticket number tells me is this is two separate tickets taped together. >> Is it >> right? And what it actually is is a non-winning ticket. >> Oh, go figure. >> made into a million dollar ticket. >> What? >> Now I'll tell you how you can see that. >> Right. >> They don't go together. >> No. Right here. This is the ticket number. You see that number 019? That's a 088. Oh, >> I'm sorry. 018. >> Yeah. >> Right. If you look at the bottom, this is the ticket number for >> That's what I was wondering. And I was like, why does that not match? >> Right. >> And I was like, I thought that's what it meant if you win. >> No. >> Oh, I didn't know that. >> So, did you take this together after you saw that? >> Yeah, after I saw that it was winning, but then I saw the number. I was looking at the numbers and I was like, that's a match, huh? >> That's odd. >> Did you tell anyone at the front? Like, why is this so weird? Why wouldn't you? I know. I didn't even think about that. >> So, when it was weird, you just went there. >> I just thought it was that's what a winning ticket was like. I don't know. >> So, you play a lot? >> I mean, not a lot. No, but I play somewhat. >> Well, you buy more than me, probably because you say you're buying a few of the bunch. >> Yeah. I mean, every now and again, yeah, you know, I have a little bit of money. I'll pay for a couple. >> Okay. So, that's a moderate player, I guess. I'm thinking moderate players kind of understand the games they played, you know, like win or lose. >> Sometimes they don't batch of them. >> But I mean, I was like reading the directions and everything. I thought I was doing it right. >> Right. >> But apparently I there was more to it. I don't know about >> Well, let me ask you about the back part. >> Mhm. >> So, you see on the back part right here where the weight stayed together, see how the words don't even match up? Did you notice that? >> I did not. They do though. Installments and installments. I just didn't see it right. It does if you >> But no, I did not. But to me it matches up. >> It actually does. It's from two. Look, the rips are different. >> I mean, it to me it looks like it. >> I got you. >> I don't see how it's different. >> So, the ticket's problematic for you. And the reason why it's problematic is because you signed some documents that said this ticket's mine under penalty of perjury and under penalty of fraud, >> right? >> The ticket's not altered. Tickets not >> I just stuck it back together. I didn't know. >> Well, you have to understand the position we're in. You're saying you honestly did that. >> I did. I mean, I just stuck it back together. I thought they went together. >> So, what's the probability of two tickets getting ripped? >> That's what I'm saying. I think I'm pretty sure that goes together. >> It doesn't. I don't know how it doesn't go together. There's no way. >> So, we have a laboratory in Tallahassee. That's where I'm from. >> Okay. >> And we take the tickets apart and this is >> I just don't I'm not understanding because I don't see how it would >> This is 100% 100% two different tickets. >> Wow. >> I mean, I see what you're saying the numbers. I'm getting that, but I'm not understanding how that's crazy. >> I'm asking you that. >> That's what I'm saying. I don't understand how that it could be two different tickets, but I see what you're saying about the numbers, >> right? >> I do. I >> Well, not not trying to trick you with any falsehood. This is actually two different days 100%. >> I I don't remember. My brain is all from the trauma. I don't remember everything. But >> what kind of trauma? >> My life through like >> Well, I'm sorry about that. But today there's no trauma for you. Correct. >> I mean, I wasn't expecting to be interrogated, but not necessarily. It's trauma. >> Gotcha. >> You feel comfortable talking about this? Tell us the truth. >> I mean, yeah. I don't feel intimidated or anything. I'm just like kind of shocked. >> Well, well, you just want to get down the bottom >> and confused because I like it's not about the money to me at all. I would never do anything like that. I walked away from making like 40 grand a month like >> and my divorce. I just walked away. >> Mhm. >> Like, yeah, it helped, but I could care less about money. >> What do you do for work now? >> I'm a hair stylist. >> Okay. In Niceville, Definiac. Well, I was working in Destin and >> I just didn't like the vibe. It just didn't feel safe. >> So, now I'm kind of like in between looking for a new salon to work at or I was going to open one, >> but >> with the money. >> Yeah. >> Sorry about that. >> Not laughing. I'm going to say that sucks. >> You can't count on anything, you know. >> Yeah. I mean, >> so is what it is. But >> have you ever filled out a check before? >> Filled out a check? >> Yeah. Or got a check? >> Like written one? Yeah. >> What about a paycheck? You got a paycheck before, right? >> Yeah. >> So, if you imagine if somebody mistakenly put two pieces of two different checks together, >> I can see that looking really bad. Yes. >> Intent. >> I understand that people intentionally do that. >> Right. >> I would never intentionally do that. I know that's not allowed. You don't do that. Okay. >> That I know that is not okay. >> Okay. >> I would not ever intentionally. >> It's almost the same. >> Like that is not not okay. I the way I did was like, "Oh, it's the same as cash." Like, they'll still take a $5 bill if it's, you know, if you put it back together >> if it's the same bill. >> That's See, I didn't know that was a thing. I just thought it they still take money if it's, you know, cuz that's happened to me, too. Like, so I that's all I thought. >> Okay. >> I would never do anything like that. Like, >> so um like I know that's wrong. Like I would >> So if this is similar, could that be wrong, too? >> Similar to what? >> To putting two checks together and make one. >> I can see where you guys are coming from. >> Mhm. >> I I see where it looks bad, >> right? >> I can see your side. >> Thank you. >> I mean, like, I would I honestly would never do that ever. I know that's a problem. So, whenever we sat down, just for, you know, my safety, your safety, and all that, I had looked in your purse and everything. Um, I noticed you had a medical marijuana card. Nothing wrong with that. No judgment, no nothing. >> Um, do you do you do any kind of drugs other than that? >> I take my medicine. I'm prescribed. >> What What is that, if you don't mind me asking? >> Six different medications. I mean, is it anything that would make you >> maybe not maybe not think straight or >> anything like that? It means it's not anything crazy. >> No, I'm I'm not saying that. I'm saying like >> you're anti-depressant, >> but anything that might >> alter >> alter your judgment, might make you think funny or >> I mean, I don't think so. >> Anything like that? >> I don't I don't think it would. I don't know. Like, it doesn't make me feel crazy. >> Right. Right. I don't know. I don't know what really what you mean. Well, you seem fine today. >> Yeah, but I mean just like by looking at Okay. What I mean by that is >> if I don't mean >> during questioning, Kira insisted that she believed the ticket was genuine. She explained how it had gotten wet in the rain, how she tried taping it back together, and even admitted cutting part of it while attempting to remove the tape. Investigators, however, quickly pointed out that the ticket was made from two different tickets pieced together, an obvious sign of fraud, despite her claims of innocence. The inconsistencies in her story and the altered ticket raised serious doubts. >> Clearly, that's a horrible example cuz match really well. what I'm saying. Okay. >> Okay. So, what I mean by the question I'm asking, you have two pieces of paper like this, right? >> Okay. And paper, >> would your medication anything you take or partake in it would make a difference on >> but would it that's what I'm asking you. Would it alter your brain in any way to make you think that this right here was a good match? >> I mean, I would I would think the same way. Like if it matched up and it lined up, I'd be like that's not the right size of a piece of paper like you know like but if it really like the first what happened before like >> that's like I thought it might not. >> Yeah. Well, she just talked about it. Right. >> Right. >> This one is taped together is not the right size of a lottery ticket. >> I did not realize that. I did not know that. >> Somebody cut the top. >> I didn't cut the tape. >> Well, but you can imagine look at this barcode. >> Right. The distance >> I thought that how it came off the roll cuz look at the bottom. >> The distance on the barco is higher. >> Okay, I can. >> Okay. Did you cut that top? >> I I did cut the top where it came off. >> So that's different. You know what I'm saying? >> And I see where you're thinking. I do. But >> did you do that to make it look like the right size? >> No, I did it just to try to see what I was trying. I was like, I shouldn't have taped it. >> Oh, yeah. >> And I was like, I need to get the tape off that is not a good idea. And I was like, "This is altering it then." So I was like, "No." And I was like, "What do I do?" So I was like, "I just stop my head." >> Like I just left it on there. And I was like, "It's on there. It's already on there." I didn't think I was altering it. I I didn't intentionally do that. >> Well, the weird thing is >> all the other tickets that we look at throughout the year, maybe 5,000. I probably look at 5,000. >> I don't understand that. >> Not one has lamination or >> No, I know. And I was like right after. And he was like, "You shouldn't have put the tape on it." I was like, "You're probably right." And I was like trying to take it off. And I was like, "This is a bad idea, too. Now I'm really altering it. If I take it off, then I'm like replacing it, right?" >> Yeah. >> So then I was like, "No, not doing that." >> So here's the big question. I hear what you're saying. So the point where the tape's on there. >> Yeah. Yeah. I did that. >> Why didn't you just Why don't you just say, "Let's just stop. Let's just not persever." >> Well, I didn't. I thought it was real. Like I thought it was everything was legit. Like I was just saving it. I did not do >> like why would I if I was intentionally being like that I would not go through any of that. >> So let me ask you more about the tape. All right. >> First of all I know like I would not try to tape something. >> Is this from a roller tape? >> A roller tape? Yes. Packaging tape. >> Okay. Cool. I noticed that uh you you didn't really take too good where the lid goes. >> I know. I noticed that too. But listen, but you tape great at the top where it's not it's not uh ripped or anything. Why would you need to tape that part? >> I don't know. I just wanted the whole thing to be I don't know. I just wanted to be safe. >> You want the whole thing to look the same, right? >> No, I did not even think about that. >> I'm I'm not >> I just wanted it to be safe. >> Apart. >> There's no need to tape the top and the bottom of this. >> You're probably right. And after the fact of me thinking about that, I should have just hit the cold like where >> that's and I thought about that after the fact and I was like I'm a dumbass. >> Why would I do that? >> Well, usually we >> I would never insult you and say you're dumb. >> I would never. >> Well, usually this indicates intent to do fraud. >> I I I mean I see that, but I would not. There was no intent to do anything but put the two together and keep it safe. I taped the top. >> I just taped the whole thing. >> Why tape the whole thing? >> I don't know. I just taped the whole thing. >> I just wanted to keep the whole ticket intact. >> But when you tape the whole ticket intact. >> Mhm. >> The middle where it's really ripped. It's not picked well at all. >> I know. It's split. >> I hate to see that. It's >> So you take the top better than the split. >> I know. >> Why do that? You tell me. >> Okay. >> That's what I don't know. I see where I don't know. >> I I'm just asking just to find the truth. >> I'm telling you the truth. >> Okay. >> Okay. Will you raise your right hand? You swear in everything you told us today is true to the best of your knowledge. >> In the end, both Kira and her boyfriend were arrested and charged with forgery, attempting to pass an altered lottery ticket and grand theft of more than $100,000. What could have been the happiest day of their lives instead turned into criminal charges and the possibility of years behind bars.