Former convenience store clerk, mom charged in lottery fraud

A former convenience store clerk and his mother, both of Glenwood, were arrested last week and charged with lottery fraud. Damion Gray, 18, and Jennifer Mills, 36, were taken into custody Nov. 14 on $5,000 bond.

According to complaints filed in Mills County District Court, Gray was employed as a cashier at the Kum and Go convenience store in Glenwood in early August when he allegedly stole Iowa Lottery scratch-off tickets and played them. He is also accused of stealing cash from a cash register and safe at the store. The thefts allegedly took place during three shifts Gray was working between Aug. 3-6 and were captured on video by Kum and Go’s video surveillance / security system. Kum and Go showed a total loss of $1,106.55 during the shifts Gray was working.

Gray admitted to the thefts during an interview with an officer from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. He’s charged with lottery fraud and second-degree theft.

On Aug. 3, Mills was captured on the Kum and Go surveillance camera writing down her biographical information and signing the back of a winning Iowa Lottery scratch off ticket her son had obtained illegally. Gray had apparently called his mother and summoned her to the store after determining a lottery ticket he possessed was a winner.

The following day, Aug. 4, Mills took the ticket to the Iowa Lottery Office in Council Bluffs and claimed the winning prize of $1,000.

Gray is charged with lottery fraud and second-degree theft. Mills is charged with lottery fraud.