Former Arkansas Lottery Commission employee Remmele Mazyck pled guilty to crimes related to the theft of lottery tickets worth more than $478,000.

The charges allege that between November 2009 and October 2012, while employed as Deputy Director of Security, Mazyck used his position of authority to steal lottery tickets and cash them undetected. Mazyck cashed 22,710 tickets for a total $478,073.

Lottery Director Bishop Woosley said he first learned that the illegal activity occurred on October 26, 2012. He placed Mazyck on administrative leave that day and terminated Mazyck’s employment on November 14, 2012.

The commission’s insurance will cover the costs of the theft and losses and lottery officials were quick to state that “no Arkansas student will be denied the opportunity to have their college education paid for through use of Arkansas Scholarship Lottery funding.”

Lottery officials said they are evaluating and will continue to evaluate and strengthen security processes and procedures “as necessary to ensure that this does not occur in the future.”