The Gainesville Police Department is currently investigating a theft case surrounding a request to cash a lottery ticket for person(s) identifying themselves as illegal immigrants.

The victim in the case, identified as Pedro Ortiz reports that he was approached by two Hispanic Males and a Hispanic Female in the parking lot of J&J Foods located on Jesse Jewell Parkway on July 23, 2008.  Mr. Ortiz reports that the persons asked him to cash in a lottery ticket for them since they were illegal immigrants.  The suspects advised Mr. Ortiz that he would need to secure some of his personal funds to cover associated fees that would be levied for the lottery winnings and in exchange for his assistance he would be given a portion of the lottery winnings. Mr. Ortiz agreed to assist the suspects and proceeded to his financial institution and withdrew a sum of money to cover the fees.  Mr. Ortiz and the suspects then proceeded to Wal-Mart on Shallowford Rd. where one of the suspects feigned an illness stating he needed to go into the store to obtain some medication.  The suspects exited the victim’s vehicle taking his bag of money and left in its place a bag full of shredded paper.  The victim was unaware of the switch until after some time had passed and the suspects had not returned.                                                                                                                                      
Anyone with information on this suspect or anyone who may have been a victim of these suspects is asked to contact the Gainesville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 770-534-5254.