Joseph Demarte

DEARBORN — On Jan. 6 at approximately 8 p.m. Eric Joseph Demarte, an Ohio resident, was arrested for the multiple lottery ticket thefts which occurred at the Dearborn Liquor, Sunoco Gas Station, 7-11 and Joseph’s Market in the City of Dearborn. On January 09, 2013, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office charged Demarte with Felony and Misdemeanor Charges, including larceny from a building and 1st  Degree and 2nd Degree Retail Fraud for the lottery ticket thefts at Dearborn Liquor and the Sunoco Gas Station.  

Demarte confessed to the incidents, was arraigned in front of Judge William Hultgren in Dearborn’s19th District Court and issued a $50,000 cash bond.  Additional charges are expected from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for the attempted lottery ticket thefts at the 7-11 and Joseph’s Market.  

Demarte is also suspected in multiple lottery ticket thefts in other cities, including Allen Park, Southgate, Westland and Redford.  He is scheduled to appear for his preliminary exam in 19th District court in front of Judge Somers on Jan. 18 at 9 a.m.  

Chief Ronald Haddad said, “Our detectives put a significant amount of time into this investigation and it paid off, unlike Mr. Demarte’s ill-gotten lottery tickets.”