Former SC Lottery Accountant Accused of Embezzlement

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Tuesday, the South Carolina Education Lottery announced a former Accountant for the organization was arrested and charged with embezzlment. Anthony McNeil who previously served as an Accountant / Fiscal Analyst III, is accused of taking over $200,000 from the SCEL over a two year time period. According to SLED Anthony McNeil, a former Accountant at the SCEL, started stealing the money in April 2010 and continued to do so until August 2012. In a warrant, SLED states that McNeil’s position allowed him to collect payments owed to the SCEL. McNeil is accused of carrying out the scheme by altering a number of invoices to overcharge some retailers and not charge others for ticket sales. According to SLED, McNeil then contacted the stores not charged to tell them there was a computer system error and their payments were not received and that they needed to deposit the funds into an account that he controlled. The information came out after a SLED investigation, reportedly requested by SCEL, was complete. McNeil was terminated from the SCEL in October 10, 2012, the same month the accounting discrepancies were found. “There was an accounting procedure that caused us to have to have to send money back to a retailer and that is so very untypical for us here,” says Paula Harper Bethea, Executive Director of SCEL. Officials say the instances of money being taken were sporadic. “Appropriate actions have been taken and the accounting discrepancies have been resolved,” says Harper Bethea Harper Bethea also says all SCEL games, players and prizes were at all times protected. However, she did say because of this changes were made and from now on things will be checked, doubled checked and re-checked. The total on the embezzelement was $226,439.07