Batavia man gets jail, probation for stealing $49K in lottery tickets from Clarendon business

Judge orders restitution to be paid after theft

ALBION – For the first six months last year, a Batavia man stole nearly $50,000 in lottery tickets from Van’s Pit Stop, a gas station and convenience store in Clarendon.

Zachary C. Johnson, 35, of Batavia worked at Van’s for about two years. Van’s owner Jeremy Van Ameron noticed the scratch-off tickets were going fast, but yet the revenue wasn’t there to match the tickets that were out of the machine. He put in a security camera and saw an employee was taking the tickets.

Johnson on June 30, 2025 was charged with third-degree grand larceny by the State Police. He was sentenced today in Orleans County Court by Judge Sanford Church. Johnson needs to pay back $49,000 in restitution for the stolen lottery tickets. He will spend four months doing weekends in the county jail and also will be on probation for five years.

He needs to pay at least $400 a week in restitution to Van’s Pit Stop.

Jeremy Van Ameron, owner of the business the past six years, said the theft hurt the finances of the locally owned business and has shaken his trust in people.

Johnson, speaking at his sentencing, apologized to the Van Ameron family.

He pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny in a previous court appearance.

With weekends in jail, he will be able to work full-time and pay towards the restitution. The judge gave him until April 1, 2030 to make full restitution. There is a 5 percent surcharge on each payment, which goes to probation and then will be directed to Van’s. If Johnson pays the $400 each week, he should have the restitution paid off in less than three years.

In another case in county court today, Michael White, 22, of Albion pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

White was charged on Sept. 16 after he allegedly had a 20-round magazine in his backpack and pulled his hands away when law enforcement attempted to handcuff him. He also allegedly tried to strike an officer with his elbows.

White admitted in court today to having the large-capacity device that could hold more than 20 rounds.

He faces a split sentence of jail and probation when he is sentenced on May 20.