Calif. Lottery trying to track down big winner

Nov 6, 2013, 8:00 am (24 comments)

California Lottery

By Todd Northrop

The California Lottery has released images from surveillence video of a man buying a lottery ticket, in hopes that someone recognizes him before the winning ticket expires.

The man in the video stands to lose a jackpot of $465,539 that he won in May, but if the lottery can't find him in less than two weeks, he'll miss out on the payout for good.

According to the California Lottery, the half-millionaire in waiting hit five of six winning numbers in the May 22 Powerball game on a ticket he bought at Whitley Heights Market, 1900 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood Hills.

The ticket has gone unclaimed and if he doesn't show up with it by Nov. 18, the money is funneled directly to Los Angeles schools.

If someone knows him, tell him to get to his closest lottery office ASAP. A list of offices is available on the California Lottery Web site, at http://www.calottery.com/about-us/office-locations.

The California Lottery previously used this same technique of releasing surveillence footage to identify a lottery winner a year ago, when a Palmdale woman was tracked down and was able to claim a $23 million jackpot.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

sully16's avatarsully16

Hope he comes forward and claims his prize.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

MAYBE ONLY he is MIA! FIGURES  Green laughCongrats mystery man hope you get there on time

dr65's avatardr65

It's like, don't do me any favors. Who wants to be splattered all over the place like that with people looking for you?

What if he forgot about his ticket? What if it's in some landfill? The drawing was in MAY?

That's nuts...but maybe he wanted to wait. So much for that, if anyone does know him, the wait approach is gone.

Maybe he died, maybe he lost it, maybe he's in jail, maybe he is taking advantage of the time he has...hey! maybe he

doesn't need it!

Oh well whatever the reason the only way I'm sure he'd be happy having his mug posted is that he forgot his ticket

was in the old coffee can above the stove. Roll Eyes

Jon D's avatarJon D

Let's hope he or someone he knows sees it and that he/she didn't throw away the ticket.

I just don't understand how people can buy tickets and not check them. Or if they bought so many that it's hard to check hundreds of numbers, every store in CA that I've seen has self-check ticket scanners.

BuyLow's avatarBuyLow

I will say it again.  If you buy a ticket and are too stupid to check it you deserve to not get the money.  The govt/no one should have the right to put out a video of you or a picture without permission.  Never, no how......

Jon D's avatarJon D

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Nov 6, 2013

I will say it again.  If you buy a ticket and are too stupid to check it you deserve to not get the money.  The govt/no one should have the right to put out a video of you or a picture without permission.  Never, no how......

..... except for suspected criminals and marathon bombers or other reasons.

noise-gate

Looks a little like Bill Paxton from the front.
Also noticed that they do not mention airing the MM jackpot winner after 45 days from the Bay Area. Probably were called to the principal's office over that snafu.

Hope he comes forward and collects.Dance

Jerm3462

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Nov 6, 2013

I will say it again.  If you buy a ticket and are too stupid to check it you deserve to not get the money.  The govt/no one should have the right to put out a video of you or a picture without permission.  Never, no how......

I hate to rain on your parade of "I know my rights" but when you venture out in public places you are free game.
You have no rights when it comes to being videotaped or photographed.
Look at what celebrities have to endure. they don't need your permission to release your photo
the only way to avoid it is stay inside your home.
when you go outside you are constantly being videotaped.

mnsweeps

I have bought from this store so many times before...There is also a starbucks near by..Its 2 blocks from the famous walk of fame on Hollywood and Highland blvd in Hollywood.

Masone

Since they know it's him, if he comes forward without the ticket, can he still get the money? Like say he lost the ticket.

Jerm3462

Quote: Originally posted by Masone on Nov 6, 2013

Since they know it's him, if he comes forward without the ticket, can he still get the money? Like say he lost the ticket.

I doubt it.
it's not who purchases it its who bears it.
he could have given it away as a gift or something

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Nov 6, 2013

Let's hope he or someone he knows sees it and that he/she didn't throw away the ticket.

I just don't understand how people can buy tickets and not check them. Or if they bought so many that it's hard to check hundreds of numbers, every store in CA that I've seen has self-check ticket scanners.

The odds of winning being what they are most players who don't check their tickets lose nothing. 

Some players only check their tickets if they hear the store where they bought them sold a big winner, that's one reason stores should post they sold a big winner as soon as they know to alert their customers to double check their tickets for that date.

mnsweeps

That neighborhood is a very tourist spot..Its possible the buyer is not even from CA..

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Do you really need somebody to tell you to check your tickets? Respect your tickets and check them always.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by Masone on Nov 6, 2013

Since they know it's him, if he comes forward without the ticket, can he still get the money? Like say he lost the ticket.

They would probably argue that video evidence is not admissible and demand the ticket yet they will use video clips of security cameras to prosecute vandals or burglars. The law is a jealous mistress haha

TNPATL

WOW  I'm amazed how people play and then just forget.  I know $465,539 may not seem like a lot, but I could do things with the after tax amount for certain!!!  I could pay off some debt in full, pay off my car, and save some.  The rest I would figure out LOL

larry3100's avatarlarry3100

Oh darn, it wasn't me. Sad

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Nov 6, 2013

I will say it again.  If you buy a ticket and are too stupid to check it you deserve to not get the money.  The govt/no one should have the right to put out a video of you or a picture without permission.  Never, no how......

Heres a list of places that your opinion means zilch.

1: Casinos

2: Banks

3: Federal Buildings

4: Entry to secured Buildings

5: Most major cities now have street cams

6: Subways

7: Airports

8: Department & Grocery stores and parking lots.

9: Hospitals

10: Prisons

11: Courthouses

No where on any tickets have I seen the line : You don't deserve to claim or win if you haven't checked your numbers.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by dr65 on Nov 6, 2013

It's like, don't do me any favors. Who wants to be splattered all over the place like that with people looking for you?

What if he forgot about his ticket? What if it's in some landfill? The drawing was in MAY?

That's nuts...but maybe he wanted to wait. So much for that, if anyone does know him, the wait approach is gone.

Maybe he died, maybe he lost it, maybe he's in jail, maybe he is taking advantage of the time he has...hey! maybe he

doesn't need it!

Oh well whatever the reason the only way I'm sure he'd be happy having his mug posted is that he forgot his ticket

was in the old coffee can above the stove. Roll Eyes

I Agree! 

he just got set up MAYBE now being Targeted because of them pictures, That other guy was beat and robbed over $160.00

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Hollywood?

Oh man.

I hope it wasn't one of them Hollywood weirdos like Sean Penn or Charlie Sheen or Jane Fonda who bought it.

Unless they lost the ticket.

Then it would be funny.

Especially if it was Hanoi Jane.  LOL

Libra0926

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Nov 6, 2013

They would probably argue that video evidence is not admissible and demand the ticket yet they will use video clips of security cameras to prosecute vandals or burglars. The law is a jealous mistress haha

No Pity!

 

He may have pushed the ticket down in his pockets, and later washed the pants with his other laundry, thereby washing the ticket.  If  the ticket got really messed up in the laundry machine since they R made of paper, it may be toooooo late. Sorry 4 him

loonasee2's avatarloonasee2

Oh this is a great surprise for him,having his picture plastered when someone recognizes him ,and kicks in his door ,to help him look.This reminds me of the lady that won in Liverpool,NY. She got busted up in her home ,by two knuckle heads looking for her winnings .Because the media plastered her picture.This lady hadn't even got her money yet........yikes

sflottolover's avatarsflottolover

i think this guy is really forgets he has bought this ticket, because he is too busy.

jamella724

Did the winner able to claim his prize? It will be unfortunate if the ticket will just simply expires when there are a lot of hopeful players who would love to be in his shoes.  The management is also helpful for showing the footage to track down the winner. I hope their effort will not go to waste.

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