Four charged with stealing over $150k in lottery scratch tickets from retailers along Front Range

April 28, 2025 (DENVER) – The statewide grand jury indicted Richard McBee, Adam Pacheco, Tawny McCurry, and David Goetken for committing a series of thefts involving Colorado Lottery instant-win scratch game tickets across Colorado’s Front Range.

According to the indictments filed in courts last Thursday, McBee, either acting alone or with accomplices, committed at least 45 separate thefts of lottery scratch tickets between August 2023 and November 2024. These thefts followed a similar pattern. McBee would target gas stations and convenience stores that were staffed by a single store clerk. 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 store clerk was distracted, McBee would 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, the total value of the thefts was over $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,” said Attorney General Weiser.

“The Colorado Lottery’s Security & Investigations section is dedicated to ensuring the integrity and security of its games, as well as protecting its customers and retailers,” Colorado Lottery Senior Director Tom Seaver said.

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. The McBee (25CR1809), Pacheco (25CR1818), and McCurry (25CR1826) cases are filed in El Paso County District Court, and the Goetken case (25CR1031) is filed in Arapahoe County District Court.

The investigation was conducted by various local law enforcement agencies, the Colorado Lottery Investigation Unit, and the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by an assistant attorney general, acting under the authority of the district attorneys for the judicial districts where the indictments are filed.

Read the indictment for defendants McBee, Pacheco, and McCurry (PDF).

Read the indictment for defendant Goetken (PDF).

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

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Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office | (720) 245-4689 cell
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov