3 workers on leave during theft investigation

CLEVELAND — Ohio Lottery officials filed a complaint with state investigators after learning three employees might be stealing supplies from a lottery warehouse near downtown Cleveland.

The three men have not been charged with crimes, but the Ohio Lottery Commission’s legal counsel filed a formal complaint with the Ohio inspector general’s office on July 20.

The warehouse, located on Perkins Avenue near East 40th Street and Chester Avenue, houses lottery equipment, lottery records and some Cash Explosion game operations, the complaint says.

Officials believe the thefts happened at that location for at least a year, the complaint says.

Three employees — described as a warehouse supervisor and two delivery workers — are believed to have loaded pallets and scrap wire into their personal vehicles and lottery vehicles on several occasions, the complaint says.

The men were seen leaving the facility with these materials. When they returned, two employees saw them split up money between them, the complaint says.

A part-time warehouse employee reported these incidents to management on June 5. He said one of the delivery drivers told him that he and the supervisor sell the materials and keep the money, the complaint says.

Lottery officials interviewed workers and reviewed surveillance video before filing their complaint with the inspector general’s office.

As with all complaints filed with their office, a spokesman for the inspector general declined to say whether the agency is investigating.

The same complaint was also filed with the governor’s office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

A Highway Patrol spokesman did not confirm whether the patrol has an open case against the workers.

All three men are now on paid administrative leave from their jobs, according to lottery spokeswoman Danielle Frizzi-Babb. She said the commission does not comment on pending investigations.