A Florida man has been hit with federal charges after allegedly stealing $7,000 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets from a convenience store — and then returning hours later to the same store to cash them in, according to authorities.
Justin Farley, 43, pulled up to a Circle K in St. Petersburg on May 5, where he allegedly broke into multiple cabinets and grabbed several books of lottery tickets before fleeing in his gray Hyundai Elantra, a probable cause affidavit stated.
Roughly 40 minutes later, Farley went to a nearby 7-Eleven to redeem the tickets. When that failed, he returned to the same Circle K to try his luck again — twice. Both times, store staff refused to cash the stolen scratch-offs.
Frustrated and desperate, Farley then drove back to the 7-Eleven wearing a black mask, yellow shirt, and black Nikes, where he pointed a replica Glock at a clerk and demanded cash, prosecutors said.
He escaped with $120 and a pack of Newport cigarettes after forcing the clerk to the back of the store.
Police used surveillance footage and license plate data to track Farley down. He was arrested on May 22 and booked on commercial burglary and grand theft charges. During questioning, Farley allegedly told officers he committed the crimes because he “needed money.”
While in custody, he was later indicted by a Tampa grand jury and charged federally under the Hobbs Act, which covers robbery that interferes with interstate commerce.
Farley, who has a lengthy criminal record including felony drug and firearm convictions, now faces one federal count of interference with commerce by threat or violence.
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