SAN DIEGO -- Two convenience store clerks, arrested in a law enforcement sting and accused of redeeming winning lottery tickets for less than their real value, were ordered Tuesday to stand trial for grand theft.

California Lottery investigators testified during a preliminary hearing that Andi Paulus paid an undercover agent $20 for a winning ticket worth $2,000, and then submitted a claim to the state-run agency for the full $2,000.

Sheldon Grover, a lottery agent, testified before Judge Desiree Bruce-Lyle that, at first, Paulus told him he got the winning ticket from his brother.

When interviewed a month later, Paulus said he bought the ticket from a regular customer at 4Js Mini Mart on El Cajon Boulevard for $2,000, Grover testified.

The investigator said he warned Paulus that it was illegal for retailers to buy lottery tickets from customers.

Grover said he initially went to 4Js store to investigate a complaint from a customer who said that no one there would cash his winning ticket.

When the customer brought the ticket back, Paulus, 27, told him it was worth $2, Grover testified.

Grover said he confronted Paulus, saying the ticket was worth $10. At that point, Paulus conceded but said the ticket was no good, because it had been canceled, Grover testified.

The episode involving Paulus and a ticket worth $2,000 was separate.

In another preliminary hearing, Pat English, also a lottery agent, testified that he went into a Minute Mart store on El Cajon Boulevard last March 20 and presented a "bait" $2,000 winning ticket to retailer Jim Yacoo.

English said Yacoo first declared the "bait" ticket "garbage," then told him: "You won a lot of money."

Yacoo told the agent that he had just won $200, and paid him with two $100 bills from his wallet, English testified.

Each defendant faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Chris Ryan.

Paulus is due in court Sept. 16 for arraignment in Superior Court and to get a trial date.

Yacoo, 61, has a readiness conference set for Oct. 7 and trial set for Oct. 15.

Two other retailers, Saeed Zori and Amer Hana, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the undercover operation and will be sentenced next month.

California Lottery Director Joan Borucki said the operation was the first of its kind in the country for lottery products.

Lottery spokesman Al Lundeen said today that the consumer protection operation is continuing all over the state.

He said lottery officials won't tolerate those who deceive game players and attack the integrity of the lottery.