A statewide grand jury has indicted four people — Richard McBee, Adam Pacheco, Tawny McCurry, and David Goetken — for several thefts of Colorado Lottery instant-win scratch game tickets across the Front Range.

In a release put out by Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office, the indictments were filed last week. The indictments claim McBee, either acting alone or with accomplices, committed at least 45 separate thefts of lottery scratch tickets between August 2023 and November 2024. McBee would target gas stations and convenience stores with only a single store clerk on duty. He or his accomplice would then lure the store clerk away from the store’s counter by distracting the clerk with purchasing propane tanks, claiming a credit card was stuck in a gas pump, or spilling gasoline. While the clerk was distracted, McBee would then sneak behind the counter and steal high-value lottery scratch tickets from the store’s dispenser. Within hours of the theft, and before the theft was discovered, McBee would enter a different gas station or store to redeem prizes from the stolen lottery tickets.

Between the retail value of the stolen tickets and the prize money awarded, prosecutors say the total value of the thefts was more than $150,000.

“The individuals accused of these lottery ticket retail thefts harmed businesses along the Front Range. Colorado Lottery sales proceeds go toward preserving and protecting state parks, trails, and open spaces, so Coloradans who enjoy the great outdoors are also victims of Lottery theft. I am grateful for the team effort with local law enforcement and Lottery investigators. We’ll hold these individuals to account for their actions and the harm they caused to the victims and our state,” Weiser said in the statement.

The indictments charge McBee with four counts of class 4 felony theft, Pacheco with one count of class four felony theft, McCurry with one count of class five felony theft, and Goetken with one count of class five felony theft. McBee, Pacheco and McCurry’s cases were filed in El Paso County District Court. Goetken’s case was filed in Arapahoe County District Court.

The investigation was conducted by multiple area law enforcement agencies, the Colorado Lottery Investigation Unit, and the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime under Colorado laws. All defendants are still presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The indictment against McBee, Pacheco and McCurry is available to read here.

The indictment against Goetken is available here.