Auburn American Legion Post Employee Arrested for Allegedly Stealing $2,000 in Lottery Tickets

AUBURN, New York — An employee of a local veterans' organization has been arrested following allegations that he stole thousands of dollars' worth of lottery tickets and cash proceeds from his employer. The Auburn Police Department initiated the investigation after the post reported discrepancies in their financial records.

According to police reports, 38-year-old Thomas E. Crawford III, a resident of Auburn, was arrested on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, and charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, which is a class E felony in New York State.

The investigation began on February 18, 2026, when representatives from the SK Post 1324 (an American Legion post located on State Street in Auburn) contacted law enforcement. Representatives reported that instant-win lottery tickets—commonly known as "pull tabs"—and the cash proceeds generated from their sales had been going missing over a period of several weeks.

Detectives determined that Crawford, who was employed at the post, had allegedly stolen the pull-tab tickets and pocketed the cash payouts on multiple occasions while on duty. A detailed audit conducted by the post and investigators calculated the total value of the stolen tickets and cash proceeds to be $2,079.50.

Following his arrest, Crawford was processed at the Auburn Police Department and subsequently released on an appearance ticket. He is scheduled to answer the charges in Auburn City Court at a later date. The American Legion SK Post 1324 has served local veterans and the Auburn community for decades, relying on these lottery sales to fund various charity and community outreach programs.