Battle Creek Man Pleads Guilty to $7K Lottery Fraud in Bad Axe

A 25-year-old man from Battle Creek has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a fraudulent scheme involving over $7,000 in lottery tickets purchased with stolen credit card information at a party store in Bad Axe.

Ruben Darnell Whimper entered his plea on Monday in Huron County's 52nd Circuit Court, admitting to the felony charge of false pretenses involving amounts between $1,000 and $20,000. This offense carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $10,000.

The case unfolded in February 2025 when Detective Derek Joy of the Bad Axe Police Department initiated an investigation following a complaint from a local party store. The store reported that an individual had used stolen credit card numbers to purchase lottery tickets totaling more than $7,000.

Through meticulous review of surveillance footage, Detective Joy obtained a description of the suspect. Collaboration with the Michigan Lottery revealed that many of the fraudulent tickets had been redeemed at the Walmart store in Bad Axe. Walmart's security footage identified Whimper as the individual redeeming the tickets.

Further investigation showed that some tickets were also cashed at Meijer stores in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. Surveillance videos from these locations provided additional evidence linking Whimper to the fraudulent activities.

In March 2025, coordinated efforts between the Bad Axe Police Department, Kalamazoo Public Safety, Kalamazoo Township Police, Battle Creek Police, and the Michigan Department of Corrections led to the execution of search warrants at residences in Kalamazoo Township and Battle Creek. Both Whimper and a 25-year-old accomplice from Kalamazoo Township were arrested on charges related to the fraud investigation and probation violations.

Authorities continue to urge businesses to remain vigilant against such fraudulent activities and to report any suspicious behavior to local law enforcement promptly.