$20M Mega Millions winner didn't believe lottery scanner

Apr 4, 2014, 4:25 pm (61 comments)

Mega Millions

A lottery player scanned his tickets at a Shirley, New York, convenience store called JackSpot! and when the screen flashed "BIG WINNER," he told the cashier, "The machine is broken."

But it wasn't — he was holding the $20-million Mega Millions ticket, the mystery jackpot winner sought by the New York State Lottery since the March 25 drawing, said convenience store co-owner Howie Frank and cashier Laura Marckesano.

"He's not catching what I'm saying," said Marckesano, who scanned the ticket twice. "So I smacked his shoulder — 'You won $20 million dollars!' That kind of woke him up."

Lottery spokeswoman Christy Calicchia said the ticket holders put in a claim for the prize Wednesday but she declined to provide a name, citing an upcoming news conference.

The ticket, bought at the Gascon gas station in Coram, should have 19, 26, 51, 57, 73 and the Mega Ball number 15.

Calicchia said the winner has two payout options: a pretax lump sum of $11.1 million or the $20-million annuity.

Frank said the winner will go public after full discussions with legal and financial experts.

He is a 48-year-old orderly at Southampton Hospital, the store co-owner said. "He said he likes his job and he's going to keep his job," Frank said, adding with a laugh, "We'll see."

He's also a regular breakfast patron who lives nearby, and Thursday last week, his usual coffee and buttered roll were served with the jackpot news and happy tears — his and Marckesano's. At first, he stared up, looked down and was silent before the euphoria set in, the cashier said.

Store surveillance video shows the winner clasping his forehead with both hands several times, pacing and snapping a photo of the winning ticket with his cellphone to send to someone.

"We were jumping up and down," Marckesano said. "He gave me a big bear hug. . . . Five or ten minutes of my life with him — it was like a dream."

When Marckesano called Frank to tell him to rush over because a customer won $20 million, he replied, "$20,000?"

When the lottery player called his wife, it took not just Marckesano but two customers to convince her it was no joke.

"She said to me he never checks his tickets but he plays all the time," Marckesano said. "He had a pocket full of tickets."

When Frank arrived, about 25 customers were buzzing around the winner, he said: "They just wanted to be near a millionaire, I guess."

Later, the Mega Millions player said he wanted a new Dodge Ram truck because his had been totaled last year.

As he left JackSpot!, which focuses on lottery games and has a "scratch-off lounge," Marckesano rushed after him.

"I wanted to make sure he was OK to drive," she said. "He said he was OK. He said 'I'm not going to change. I'm not going to change. This is not going to change my life.' "

Newsday

Comments

Bergen

Awesome.  Party

 

He's out on Long Island.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

It's a good thing that we have store clerks that can be trusted. I say sign your tickets in ink if you are going to hand them over to someone else to check or confirm that they are winners. Trust but verify.Jester

larry3100's avatarlarry3100

All the big lottery winners  say " This big win is not going to change my life! " ," Bull shi* ",  he will be broke in just a few years, that's my prediction.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congratulations to the mystery Winner Party

Shelby Mustang

So there are scanners out there that will tell you the amount over $500 much less tell you to the exact million what you won.

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Apr 4, 2014

It's a good thing that we have store clerks that can be trusted. I say sign your tickets in ink if you are going to hand them over to someone else to check or confirm that they are winners. Trust but verify.Jester

I Agree!

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

The MM result is out. I hate it!...I always get just 3 numbers all the time...2 numbers and the MB. Anyway not bad for $2 tickets.Smile

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Just give us a scanner that tells us exactly how much we won, that way we don't have to hand over our tickets to the clerk, instead of the 4king scanner, that flashes "BIG WINNER". These tightwads are part of the problem.

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Apr 5, 2014

Just give us a scanner that tells us exactly how much we won, that way we don't have to hand over our tickets to the clerk, instead of the 4king scanner, that flashes "BIG WINNER". These tightwads are part of the problem.

Yeah, I wish there's a phone that could scan lottery numbers. Good idea.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Marilyn222 on Apr 4, 2014

The MM result is out. I hate it!...I always get just 3 numbers all the time...2 numbers and the MB. Anyway not bad for $2 tickets.Smile

Congrats on your Win Hurray!

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Marilyn222 on Apr 5, 2014

Yeah, I wish there's a phone that could scan lottery numbers. Good idea.

You can call and get the numbers Yes Nod

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

Quote: Originally posted by helpmewin on Apr 5, 2014

You can call and get the numbers Yes Nod

That's right, didn't think 'bout that. Somebody won the MM JP. I'll get the PB...I hope...hehehehe

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Marilyn222 on Apr 5, 2014

That's right, didn't think 'bout that. Somebody won the MM JP. I'll get the PB...I hope...hehehehe

Good Luck to you Lep PB $70 Million

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

Quote: Originally posted by helpmewin on Apr 5, 2014

Good Luck to you Lep PB $70 Million

...and good luck to you too! We half to the $70 Million...

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