WATERBURY — Vermont State Police say a Barre woman is facing charges of embezzling more than $25,000 in lottery tickets from her former employer.

Police said Wednesday that 33-year-old Ami Lamell is accused of taking several booklets of instant lottery tickets from Crossroad Beverage in Waterbury where she worked for five years and redeeming the winning tickets at other stores over the course of a year. The investigation started in August.

Police say an acquaintance of Lamell's, Eric Luman, also redeemed the stolen tickets.

He's been arrested for embezzlement and driving with a suspended license after he drove to the Vermont State Police barracks in Middlesex for questioning on Tuesday.