Florida Man Caught Stealing and Reselling Trading Cards Using Taco Meat Seasoning Packet Scheme at Self-Checkout

A Florida man is caught by Target stealing thousands of dollars worth of trading cards from multiple stores using $0.99 taco seasoning packets.

Target store; credit: by Mike Mozart, CC BY 2.0

Florida Man Caught Stealing in Self-Checkout Scheme Involving Taco Meat Seasoning Packets

Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier reported that 39-year-old Keith Wallis of Pompano Beach, Florida was arrested after he allegedly engaged in an "organized retail fraud scheme" that took place in Target stores from Miami to Orlando, Florida.

Keith Wallis mugshot

Wallis was accused of 75 retail thefts at multiple Target stores between July 2025 and February 2026. 

His scheme involved grabbing large boxes of trading cards and an equal amount of 99-cent taco meat seasoning packets. At the self-checkout, Wallis would only scan the taco meat seasoning packets and then resell the stolen trading cards on eBay. His scheme generated "almost $40,000 USD in revenue" while the stolen merchandise totaled "over $10,000 USD."

Florida Man will be prosecuted to the 'Maximum Punishment' of the Law

The Attorney General's office reported that Wallis was charged with three counts of felony dealing in stolen property, felony organized retail theft, and one count of felony money laundering. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Statewide Prosecution led the investigation with help from Broward and Martin counties.

Attorney General James Uthmeier said:

"Florida has the number one economy in the nation because of our commitment to law and order. Organized retail theft drives up prices for consumers, and that is not a result we are going to tolerate. These schemes will be met with the maximum punishment allowed under the law."

The Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw made the following statement:

"This arrest sends a clear message that organized retail theft, no matter how coordinated or far-reaching, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted."

Keith Wallis has Prior Thefts on Record 

Wallis is also being investigated for more thefts at Publix and Walmart locations in Florida. He has a history of theft, noting the example below. 

An example:

In Nov. 2025, Wallis pled guilty to petit theft that took place in Sept. 2025 at a Palm Beach Publix. He exited the Publix without paying for two steaks valued at $77. He returned to the store and stole two loaves of bread and scanned two packs of gravy in place of the bread barcodes. The store manager confronted Wallis at the self-checkout register for his prior transaction, and informed him to "return the steaks to correct the transaction and pay for the steaks."

The store manager stopped the transaction with the bread, and Wallis left the store immediately, leaving his debit card behind on the payment terminal.

Palm Beach Police Department then confronted Wallis, asking if he was at the Publix on Sept. 9, 2025.

Wallis responded: "Uh, I am going to pay for the steak, uh, yeah," and told the detective he had "no problem returning to the Publix and paying for the steaks."

In a guilty plea, he was ordered not to return to that Publix, and to pay for the steaks and the court costs.

Sources:

Cervantes Jr., Fernando. "Man accused of using taco meat seasoning packets to steal $40K from Target." USA Today. 27 Feb. 2026.

Shields, Malcolm. "Florida man accused of stealing trading cards, selling them online for nearly $40,000." ABC 25 WPBF News. 27 Feb. 2026

Circle K is Suing a Store Manager for Trying to Buy Unclaimed Winning Arizona Lottery Ticket

Circle K is suing an employee for trying to buy an unclaimed winning lottery ticket from one of its stores.

Circle K

Summary of What Happened at an Arizona Circle K with the Lottery Tickets

Here's what happened:

A Circle K manager noticed that a winning Arizona Lottery ticket was lying around the store, and he bought it “as a customer” after he found out it had the winning numbers. His employer — Circle K — wants to keep all $12.8 million , which would be the fourth-largest jackpot won in Arizona since 2019.

The Full Details of the Circle K Story

Here’s what happened in Maricopa County, according to 12News:

A customer entered the Circle K at 5601 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 24, 2025, and asked for lottery tickets to be printed.

The store manager, Robert Gawlitza, printed $85 worth of tickets; however, the customer only paid for $60 worth of the tickets, leaving the remaining $25 worth of tickets on the counter “available for sale” at the convenience store.

That night, the Arizona Lottery announced the winning numbers, and these tickets were still sitting in the store.

On the morning of November 25, 2025, Gawlitza noticed that one of the tickets had the winning numbers of 3, 13, 14, 15, 19, and 26, meaning that it was worth a winning cash payout of $12.6 million.

He then “clocked out” as an employee of Circle K and purchased the abandoned lottery tickets from another Circle K employee.

After the sale, Circle K management “was alerted to the winning ticket,” and the company requested that the winning ticket be kept in the head office for safekeeping until a judge decides who the rightful owner of the ticket is.

The winner of the ticket must claim the cash prize by May 23, 2026.

Reader Poll: Who do you think should be entitled to the winning lottery ticket?

Sources

Simchuk, Kyle. “Lawsuit: Circle K employee buys lottery ticket worth millions the day after the drawing.” 12news.com. 20 Feb. 2026.

Walcott, Escher. “Arizona Store Clerk Sued for Trying to Cash in $12.8 Million Lottery Ticket Left Behind by a Customer.” People.com. 22 Feb. 2026.

*****

Opinion Editorial:

Here is a thought of why Gawlitza should be able to keep the winning lottery ticket and claim the winnings.

The manager should be allowed to keep the $12.8 million winning ticket because the purchase was made as a private individual, not as a representative of Circle K. If he had clocked out and completed the transaction using his own money, then the ticket was a personal purchase, just like any other customer buying a ticket from the Arizona Lottery. Employment at a store does not automatically transfer ownership of personal property to the employer, especially when the employee followed standard purchasing procedures and paid with personal funds. Denying him the prize would set a troubling precedent suggesting that workers lose basic individual rights simply because of where they work. A lottery is based on chance, and if the ticket was legally purchased, fairness and common sense support allowing the manager — not the corporation — to claim the winnings.

See Examples of DQ Coupons in Mail Flyer that Give Big Savings and Great Deals & Expire in March 2026

 Have you ever been in the mood to treat yourself to a DQ (Dairy Queen) blizzard?

DQ sign

Dairy Queen (DQ) has both Sweet and Savory Menu Items

There’s nothing quite like the classic taste of Dairy Queen (DQ). From the first spoonful of a thick, creamy BLIZZARD® Treat packed with cookie pieces and candy mix-ins, to the satisfying crunch of golden chicken strips paired with crisp fries and a refreshing drink, DQ delivers comfort food and indulgent desserts in every bite. Their soft-serve is famously smooth and rich, whether it’s swirled into a cone, blended into a shake, or layered into a Cupfection. Even their Signature Stackburgers are juicy and flavorful, making DQ a place where you can enjoy both savory meals and sweet treats all in one stop. It’s the kind of food that feels nostalgic, satisfying, and consistently delicious.

DQ Coupons Save Money on Menu Favorites

Using DQ coupons makes enjoying these favorites even better because you get the same great taste at a lower price. The coupons you shared include valuable deals like $3 off any purchase of $15 or more, $2 off any Signature Stackburger combo, and $3 off a 6-piece Chicken Strip Basket with drink, which can significantly reduce the total cost of a family meal. On the dessert side, offers like $1 off any size BLIZZARD® Treat, $1.99 BLIZZARD® with purchase, 2 small shakes for $5, $1 off a dipped cone, and $3.99 Cupfection make it easy to treat yourself without overspending. There’s even $3 off any DQ cake (8" or larger), perfect for birthdays or celebrations. By stacking your visit around these coupons before they expire, you can stretch your budget while still enjoying everything DQ has to offer — turning a simple stop into a smart and satisfying deal.

An example of the coupon pages below.

DQ Coupon page

The coupons have fine print that reads:

"Offer expires 3/17/26"

"Valid in-story only. Limit one per customers. Not valid with other offers. Void if altered, sold, duplicated, or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. OREO is a trademark of Mondelez International group, used under license."

DQ Coupon page 2

Ruby Tuesday Sends Printable BOGO Coupon in February 2026: 'Buy One Adult Entree and Get a Second Entree Free'

 Ruby Tuesday So Connected has sent out another great coupon and it's sure to get us excited to eat there. The discount will be taken off the lower priced entree. This buy one get one free printable coupon is only valid through Thursday, February 19th, 2026.

Ruby Tuesday Buy One Get One Free coupon

Are You A Fan of Ruby Tuesday Coupons?

If you are as big of Ruby Tuesday as I am, then you will want to sign up on their website for coupons emailed to you from the 'So Connected' email club.

Sit down restaurants can be very good, depending on your location, and what makes eating there even better is when you have a BOGO Ruby Tuesday coupon.

Save Money with Ruby Tuesday BOGO Coupon

Using a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) printable coupon from Ruby Tuesday is a smart and simple way to stretch your dining budget without sacrificing a sit-down restaurant experience. A BOGO deal instantly cuts the cost of entrées in half, making it ideal for date nights, family dinners, or meeting friends while keeping spending under control. Instead of turning to fast food to save money, you can enjoy a full-service meal — including Ruby Tuesday’s fresh Garden Bar and made-to-order burgers, steaks, and seafood — at a significantly reduced price. Over time, consistently using promotions like this can add up to meaningful savings, especially if you dine out regularly. It’s an easy way to enjoy a restaurant atmosphere, quality food, and good company while being financially intentional.

Ruby Tuesday Email Subscribers Received a Special Coupon Code

Those on Ruby Tuesday's SoConnected email list received an email (seen in the picture above) stating: "Dinner Just Got Better-And Cheaper!"

Each email subscriber can then click the "Claim Your Code" button and then get a unique code, allowing them to redeem this special deal at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant. The coupon provided is printable, or you can show the coupon to your server from your phone so they can get the unique code.

An example of that coupon is seen below:

Coupon code

This coupon code seen above is only good for 1 use, so first come first serve.

Would you say that this Ruby Tuesday coupon is a good deal?

Anyone can join the Ruby Tuesday SoConnected club and get coupons delivered to your email inbox.