CT store loses lottery license after clerk allegedly pockets some winnings

A Connecticut grocery store has had its license to sell lottery tickets suspended after a clerk allegedly admitted to lying about a customer’s winning ticket and then pocketing some of the money, state officials said.

ZA Grocery, located at 865 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, has had their lotto license suspended, according to the state Department of Consumer Protection .

The suspension is the result of a referral to the DCP Gaming Division from the Connecticut Lottery Corporation , which assisted in the investigation. State officials said that a lottery customer purchased a winning ticket valued at $177 on August 12, but when the customer attempted to redeem the ticket, they were told the ticket was only worth $77, officials said.

The DCP Gaming Division began an investigation on August 13. After reviewing the transaction data, the agency found that the cash register did pay out $177 for the ticket, official said in a statement. When DCP investigators questioned the clerk, whose name was given only as “A Khawaja,” he initially denied any wrongdoing but then allegedly admitted he pocketed the $100 with no intention of paying the customer, officials said.

“The behavior of Mr. Khawaja is inexcusable and illegal,” DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli said. “It is clear from this incident that ZA Grocery is not operated in a manner that meets the expectations and responsibilities that come with holding a lottery sales agent license in our state.”

Cafferelli said ZA Grocery’s lottery sales license is immediately suspended, and the establishment may not sell or redeem any lottery products until further notice.

“Protecting our players is of paramount importance to the CT Lottery,” said Frank Suarez, president and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corp., also in a statement. “We work closely with the Department of Consumer Protection to investigate and take action, when necessary, to ensure integrity and protect consumers, as we did in this isolated incident.”

The officials did not say whether further action could take place as a result of the alleged incident. The DCP urges anyone who has concerns about lottery sales in Connecticut to contact DCP’s Gaming Division at (860) 713-6310, or to email dcp.gaming@ct.gov .

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com