A Lehigh Acres man was arrested and accused of a string of lottery ticket thefts in Lee County over several weeks.
A detective from Lee County Sheriff's Office used facial recognition and photo lineups to identify the suspect as Johnny Bernard Colston III, 37.
The thefts happened at convenience stores along Cleveland Ave and Fowler Street from February to March.
According to LCSO, in each of the thefts, the suspect distracted the clerk by asking for items behind the counter, then reached over to steal lottery tickets before fleeing.
Surveillance footage from multiple locations connected the same suspect to each incident.
Colston faces three counts of burglary of an occupied structure, four counts of petit theft with prior convictions, and dealing in stolen property.
Colston was originally arrested by LCSO on unrelated charges and is in the Lee County Jail.
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