California Lottery officials seized surveillance footage from store that sold Powerball ticket

Jan 20, 2016, 6:14 pm (64 comments)

California Lottery

Whoever bought the winning Powerball ticket from a Chino Hills, California, 7-Eleven remains a mystery, even to the store's owner.

Balbir Atwal, who made national news last week when the public learned that his store had sold one of the jackpot-winning tickets, said he has no idea who the winner is.

And he can't even look it up. Lottery officials seized the store's security camera footage and other materials that could contain clues about the winner's identity. California Lottery spokesman Russell Lopez said that's standard procedure when somebody wins a big prize.

"We have former cops and investigators on staff," Lopez said. "Its a real complete law enforcement investigation."

Like other types of law enforcement investigations, investigations do not to share materials with the public. Lopez said this is to avoid hoaxes.

Lopez added that investigators don't rely on surveillance camera footage to confirm a winner.

"It's supplemental," Lopez said. "We've seen photos that have been wrong in the past... we don't want to make that mistake again."

Though Atwal would like to know who the winner is as much as anyone else, he had no complaints Wednesday, Jan. 20.

In addition to receiving $1 million for selling one of three jackpot tickets, he said lottery sales at the store have gone up 70-80 percent.

On Wednesday, the store displayed a sign reading "millionaire made here," along with two prize-claiming forms on the doors reading "powerball winner... 528.8 million."

Atwal hopes his own luck will continue.

"This is just the beginning," he said.

Press-Enterprise

Comments

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

They should just come forward and get it over with. The longer you wait the better the chance that something can happen to that ticket. I would not feel safe until it was validated and in my bank account. But if they are assembling a "team" it will take longer because that team wants to be sure their cut is all in place.

They might want to let a lot of time pass to avoid attention but at the same time that would create a lot of anxiety knowing that much money ($528 million) is sitting around not claimed. Even worse if it turned out that someone lost it, or never bothered to check it and never claimed it. Imagine never knowing you even had the winning ticket. But if you do know quit hiding you will be known eventually! Maybe they are going the scared route and getting loans to go into hiding, or maybe they are just rich since they are from CA and FL and are in no hurry. Maybe all of the above.   Leaving

JoshUK

What happens to the money if it isn't claimed? Does it go back in the pot or is it kept by the lottery?

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by JoshUK on Jan 20, 2016

What happens to the money if it isn't claimed? Does it go back in the pot or is it kept by the lottery?

If the jackpot is not claimed in a multi-state game, the proceeds are sent back to the states in the same proportions of each state's sales that contributed money to the pot.  Then each state has their own rules for what is done with unclaimed prize money within the state.

JoshUK

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jan 20, 2016

If the jackpot is not claimed in a multi-state game, the proceeds are sent back to the states in the same proportions of each state's sales that contributed money to the pot.  Then each state has their own rules for what is done with unclaimed prize money within the state.

Interesting, thanks Todd!

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

http://www.flalottery.com/site/powerball-faq.do

 

"At the end of the winning state's claim period (180 days in Florida), the funds to pay a jackpot that goes unclaimed will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series. In Florida, 80 percent of all unclaimed jackpot prizes are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state. All funds for unclaimed POWERBALL non-jackpot prizes stay in the state where the winning tickets were sold."

 

Some states give a portion to different organizations and schools etc, and put some of it back into other games.

lejardin's avatarlejardin

Standard procedure?  I dont think I have heard that before in any of the lottery wins.  That is a concern for me and  maybe those who want to protect themselves.  If the winner doesnt come forward for several months will they pull that tape looking for that person and therefore outs them before they are ready?  That was done once in California when they couldnt locate a winner.  The tape came out with "if you recognize this person......".  Dont know the results of that particular win.

JoshUK

Quote: Originally posted by lejardin on Jan 20, 2016

Standard procedure?  I dont think I have heard that before in any of the lottery wins.  That is a concern for me and  maybe those who want to protect themselves.  If the winner doesnt come forward for several months will they pull that tape looking for that person and therefore outs them before they are ready?  That was done once in California when they couldnt locate a winner.  The tape came out with "if you recognize this person......".  Dont know the results of that particular win.

Isn't that the guy who won $1m on the Powerball and then went to Vietnam or something for like 6 months then came back a few days before it expired and then couldn't find the ticket....

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

May the people who purchase the winning ticket in California are get their affairs in order. Like a change of address within a week, after they claim the money.

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

The footage could also help remind or let those know they bought the ticket. But I don't know how anyone buys a ticket for a jackpot that big and does not keep track of it. But many are first time or casual players and sometimes forget they even bought it.

BuyLow's avatarBuyLow

"Seized surveillance video?"  Welcome to the USSA

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by sirbrad on Jan 20, 2016

The footage could also help remind or let those know they bought the ticket. But I don't know how anyone buys a ticket for a jackpot that big and does not keep track of it. But many are first time or casual players and sometimes forget they even bought it.

I Agree! with you sirbrad about reminding the winners. But I would wait for at least three months before airing the footage. Of course, the winner can have a call made anonymously to the lottery office and stop all the speculation, rumours, etc. The winner needs only to provide the 18 digit number above the bar code on the front side of the ticket.

 I hope that the winner does not live in Chino Hills,CA. Then his/her family members, friends, would have no suspicion that he/she is the winner. His/her name and Chino Hills will be released to the public when he/she validates the ticket at one of the many District Lottery Offices in California.

 Since the winner can make plans of what to do when he/she collects on the debt that California now owes him/her. That the California Lottery owes him/her. The winner could increase his/her security now.

 I would need either a psychologist or psychiatrist to help me handle the stress of this life changing event.

Hyper

noise-gate

BS The California Lottery is doing the same thing they did a few years ago. Seizing footage of the winner for no apparent reason.  The winner has a full freaking year before he or she decides to come forward.The Last time they ran into a firestorm for putting the winner face on TV without the winner's permission- will these people ever learn? What on earth is the hurry? I swear- if l ever won and l am told to come forward: l will, with a Nixon mask or Gorilla Suit. 

Romancandle's avatarRomancandle

Nothing creepy about this...

music*'s avatarmusic*

I Agree! Listen to Lawyers Andrew Stoltsman and Jason Kurland. 

 Winner! You have a target on your back. You are on the list of international crime syndicates. But, the good news is you are wealthy enough to defend yourself. Security companies abound and are all over the globe.

 Why the rush by the Lottery Organizations? Publicity and money. The LOVE of money is the root of many evils.

 Why is Flint, Michigan in the news? Money. 

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