$265 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot claimed anonymously
Posted: 5/3/2006 9:24:02 AM
Ohio winner chooses cash option
The mystery of who won the $265 million Mega Millions drawing April 18 remains, but the money has been claimed.
Todd A. Felthaus, trust officer for PNC Bank, claimed the jackpot Tuesday at the Ohio Lottery's Cleveland headquarters for the WFJ Trust, Ohio Lottery officials said.
The winner chose the cash option value of the jackpot — $148.1 million. After taxes, the trust will receive a check for $102.2 million.
Sandra Neal, a lottery official, said the commission is bound by the winner's request not to reveal the name. She said she could not say if the winner was from the Cincinnati area, if it was a person or a group.
"That is the advantage of using the trust," Neal said. "We are prohibited from giving out that information."
Felthaus could not be reached for comment, but PNC Bank spokeswoman Darcel Kimble said the claim for the jackpot was filed Tuesday morning.
"We are honored by the confidence the client placed in us not to violate the winner's wishes," she said.
The ticket was sold at the Kroger in University Plaza, Corryville.
The winner purchased an "auto lotto" ticket — in which the computer chooses the numbers — with five wagers, winning on the fourth line.
This is the Ohio Lottery's eighth Mega Millions jackpot winner, the second-biggest jackpot won in Ohio.
Amy Schulton, advertising manager for Kroger, said the company has no idea who bought the winning ticket.
"It is exciting for us to have sold the winning ticket, but we know absolutely nothing," she said.
The store received $100,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Schulton said the company plans to donate the money to the community but has not selected a recipient.
Winning numbers
The winning numbers drawn April 18th in the 12-state game were 13, 14, 25, 34 and 50. Mega Ball: 6.
In addition to the grand prize winner, 21 tickets, including two purchased in Ohio, matched all five numbers but not the Mega Ball for prizes of $250,000 each.
Another 109 tickets, including four from Ohio, matched four numbers plus the Mega Ball for third prizes of $10,000 each.
The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 175 million.
Source: Lottery Post Staff
