Bought ticket while vacationing in Florida
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — After a long ride back from his annual Florida vacation, Senior District Judge James Stocklas had enjoyed the sun and fun, but was anxious to get back home to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
After parking his RV in the driveway, Stocklas caught a few hours sleep and awoke Friday morning with plans to visit his favorite Bethlehem diner. While at breakfast, he pulled out his cellphone to see if anyone had won massive Powerball lottery.
His jaw dropped when he saw there was only one winning ticket that had been purchased in the same Florida town where Stocklas bought ice and $10 in tickets to share with two friends.
When Stocklas checked the numbers, he couldn't stop shaking. He had a match. He and his friends had just won more than $291 million.
"I was yelling and I bought everyone in the diner breakfast," Stocklas said. "When I found out, I was shaking for an hour straight."
The other winners are a local woman, whom Stocklas declined to identify, and Barry Bartakovits, who owns a pool business in Hellertown.
"This is like an amazing roller coaster ride," said Stocklas, who was back in Florida on Friday night.
After taxes, Stocklas said the three friends will have more than $40 million each.
The friends decided they had to immediately get to Florida to lay claim to their winnings and Stocklas called to rent a private jet.
When he found out the cost was $3,000 an hour — a total bill expected to ring up around $20,000 — Stocklas made his first big lottery purchase.
The friends bought several bottles of chilled champagne to share on the way down.
Much of the day was a blur of signing papers and watching their winnings winnow down with taxes, and on Friday night, Stocklas and the friends found themselves at an Applebee's restaurant for a quick bite before flying back home.
"I know, Applebee's," Stocklas chuckled. "We are really going top shelf, right?"
Stocklas serves as a senior district judge in Northampton County and said that won't change. He's already told court administrators he'll return to the courtroom April 1, no April Fool's joke.
"Oh, I'll be back on the bench," Stocklas said. "There's no doubt."
He said he'll use the money to help his family and set up several trust funds. He would also like to donate some of the money to charities.
He never expected a routine stop at a convenience store for some ice and lottery tickets could change his and his friends' lives forever.
"My phone has been ringing off the hook," Stocklas said. "I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight."
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Thanks to Raven62 and sandia for the tip.
Love the fact he chartered a private jet and then they ate at Applebees lol!!
Congrats to them!!
I had to laugh. A guy from PA winning PB in Florida!
You just never know when or where, or who.
I wonder how long til negative nellies bemoan that his name is out and he chartered a jet, yada, yada, yada. LOL.
He could probably already afford to fly by chartered jet given that he owns a RV and is a Senior District Judge. I never bemoan how other people spend their money but good luck on that plan to remain on the bench and in the community...he will be hounded to no end for handouts.
Personally, I would fly commercial flight to nearest city to lottery headquarters and then rent my own vehicle. I figure commercial flying is the safest way to go and driving myself is definitely safer than relying on a driver. I would have no problem with my name being published but I would not allow myself to be photographed without something covering up my body. Why I just might show up to claim my prize wearing a burqa...and I am a man!
Did they split it evenly?
I love the $7.00 check, lol!
Another Quick Pick wins big. No system - just luck!
I agree old school papa
I had originally read that the winner was a one line quick pick. Looks like the judge bought $10 worth of tickets or 5 lines. I think I would have just booked first class.
Congratulations to Senior District Judge in North Hampton County James Stocklas!!!
James, Barry Bartakovits and an unidentified woman wasted no time in getting to Tallahasee, Florida. No lawyers, no guards, no CPA, no CFP, no media specialist, no insurance agent.
I see how being a Judge brings you closer to Law Enforcement. Help is a phone call away.
Yes, QP's are lucky. I need some luck now too.
This seems like a inside Fraud to me!!! No wonder why Cynthia O Connell got canned I'm not playing anymore they cheating and the Michael Tipton case blew the cover off the whole MUSL fraud operation fake winners!! #rigged
It's nice that a group of friends won the $292 Mil Powerball Jackpot then just a sole individual. A little over forty million after taxes everyone gets a big piece of the pie.
Congratulations!!!
Is Florida like Kentucky and Indiana in the fact that the latter two states will cut separate checks? This relieves the purchaser of a huge tax burden, everyone pays their own taxes thanks to these lotteries.
Aren't they brothers? I am also not sure if they are going to "split" the jackpot as it seems like both of them were playing separately. Who knows?! Not my money so I'm not going to worry about it.
Who Da hell they think they talking too? This is fake that's why the universe allowed Michael Tipton case to happen. Cynthia o Connell and the head Musl guy got canned after 36 years. These guys must have security clearances to act as winners. They so full of $hyt who they think they playing with? It's a pattern with them Florida wins.
Ahhhhh
The first negative nellie to pop up.
Ok. You think it's fake. We get it.
This Judge got his "unanimous decision" on this verdict! Way to go for him! Have fun with the winnings!
This is the best photo ever, the $7 big check is priceless.
Isn't this the doggonedest news you've ever heard?
A judge of all people. Somebody who has all the money he could ever use wins the doggone jackpot.
It's not fair. It's just not fair.
How do you all see this?
Why isn't it fair?? I love it! Congratulations to the Judge and friends. Congratulations to the brother who won $7.
Renting the JET HELLLL YEAAAHHH
Its all good, spend that $$$$$
Maybe there's something to that theory of buying your tickets in one of the states that sell the most winners, it seems to have worked for the judge.
Hello fellow posters long time no post. You know i have been looking at the posts from time to time and i was wondering if anybody noticed that the winners were from Cali and florida for the last JP drawing. When i saw that the first thing, i said oh my gosh here we go again! There are going to be some folks ranting like nuts over the fact that the big states won big again. And when nobody said nothing over the last few days, I thought Hmmm, some people must be got tired hollerin about the same ol same ol LOL But anyway congrats to the Pennsylvanians.
RJ I am sure of that theory i bet cha it has worked for lots of folks out there it's why u hear of people crossing state lines to play. I don't always play in MD
Do you really think that location has a thing to do with winning the lottery?
Your odds of winning are the same no matter where you buy your ticket(s).
Whether you get 1 or 100, you have the same lousy chance to win 292 mil to 1.
Congrats to the PA Judge and his lotto winning group.
I guess it all depends on your point of view: If you asked the Judge: He'd say it was fair.
Jackpot wins 2007-Present = (but I could be wrong)
2007-2016 Hits
Pop
5+1
5+1
name
Rank
Hits
$$$
New York
3
29.0
$3,106,000,000
California
1
26.3
$3,756,833,333
New Jersey
11
12.9
$1,926,433,330
Michigan
9
12.5
$1,399,000,000
Florida
4
11.8
$2,508,500,000
Georgia
8
10.0
$1,311,000,000
Ohio
7
9.8
$1,089,500,000
Texas
2
8.6
$823,500,000
Pennsylvania
6
8.5
$962,500,000
Missouri
18
7.5
$1,273,750,000
Maryland
19
6.8
$882,170,000
Illinois
5
6.8
$1,045,170,000
Virginia
12
5.8
$828,500,000
Indiana
16
5.5
$878,500,000
Louisiana
25
4.3
$244,666,666
Tennessee
17
4.0
$904,333,334
South Carolina
24
4.0
$709,000,000
Connecticut
29
4.0
$354,200,000
Massachusetts
14
4.0
$198,500,000
North Carolina
10
3.8
$482,500,000
Arizona
15
3.5
$591,750,000
Kentucky
26
3.5
$234,500,000
Rhode Island
43
3.0
$641,000,000
Oklahoma
28
3.0
$222,800,000
Wisconsin
20
3.0
$100,000,000
Minnesota
21
2.3
$558,466,665
Iowa
30
2.0
$440,000,000
West Virginia
38
2.0
$355,000,000
New Mexico
36
2.0
$270,000,000
Colorado
22
2.0
$110,000,000
Delaware
45
1.8
$153,166,667
Washington
13
1.5
$280,000,000
Puerto Rico
N/A
1.3
$238,000,000
Kansas
33
1.3
$314,670,000
South Dakota
46
1.0
$232,000,000
Oregon
27
1.0
$183,000,000
Washington DC
49
1.0
$143,000,000
New Hampshire
42
1.0
$68,000,000
Arkansas
32
1.0
$25,000,000
Idaho
39
0.5
$190,000,000
Nebraska
39
0.5
$61,000,000
Montana
44
0.5
$48,500,000
Maine
41
0.0
$0
North Dakota
48
0.0
$0
US Virgin Island
N/A
0.0
$0
Vermont
50
0.0
$0
Wyoming
51
0.0
$0
Well, maybe you should get a grip. Yes, he is well to do, probably lives comfortably, but his salary as a judge would not be in the millions.
I'm happy for the guy. It shows anyone can win. I think it's funny that a guy on a fishing trip or whatever from PA wins Powerball in FL.
judge- Worked Hard For It
Lottery winner- bought ticket
Envy is a horrible thing.GROPPO Your words are very spiteful, and more revealing of your character than you know.
It's a game for crying out loud....just a game.
we are all playing with the hope of winning. The last I checked there were no income/lifestyle/occupation restrictions to qualify as a deserving winner.
Congrats to my fellow Keystoner!!
I hope I am next.
Congratulations Judge James Stocklas and friends on your jackpot win and brother on th $7.00 win
"I had to laugh. A guy from PA winning PB in Florida!"
There's some real irony in that. Neither state has an income tax on their lottery, but since he's a PA resident and won in FL he'll be paying PA income tax on his FL winnings.
Will they owe PA State Income Tax?
No I don't think you are wrong. Those stats seem to be about right. Thanks for that info.
It is all "fair". Anyone of age 18 and older in the USA can buy a lottery ticket nowadays from almost anywhere. On the Internet, local state stores, etc.
What's "not fair" is the darn thing didn't roll to a billion plus this time.
Amen...
I was waiting for the roll to a billion plus
The Powerball game is not rigged. Anyone could have won. This is the first time that I have heard of a judge winning big in a lottery game. " The rich get richer and the poor get poorer " I was hoping too that the Powerball game would reach the billion dollar mark but unfortunately it didn't.
Now if President Obama or HRC win a PB or MM jackpot, I would call for an investigation!
Will you call for an investigation if Rove and the Koch brothers split the jackpot?
I know a few Judges personally and they are salt of the earth type people. I would bet the farm
that we will not be hearing that he died of a drug overdose or seeing him on a episode of how the
lottery ruined my life. I would also say that the winnings will be around for a long time even after
his death.
RL
RL,
I agree. If he were from Chicago, a different story.
Disappointed that he didnt buy one ticket/one line and won.
Bob
LOL, I would not include the average lawyer in the list either.
RL
Someone is feeling the Bern LOL