By Todd Northrop
A Wayne, New Jersey, man who won $338 million in one of the largest Powerball lottery jackpots in New Jersey history has been charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting a child over a three-year period, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Pedro Quezada, 49, is charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.
The female victim was sexually assaulted between the ages of 11 and 14 when Quezada lived in Passaic, Valdes said in a statement.
Quezada won $338 million in 2013, telling reporters of his daily ritual of buying one lottery ticket and two ice cold Corona beers.
Lottery officials said Quezada took a $211 million lump-sum payout that dropped to $152 million after taxes.
In an interview four years ago, Quezada, a former bodega owner, said he had mixed feelings about winning the lottery.
"(When I found out I had the winning ticket), I felt pure joy and happiness because I can help my family," he said on March 26, 2013, when he officially claimed the prize at New Jersey lottery headquarters.
"My life will change because of it — so much money," Quezada said, "but it will not change my heart."
(See N.J. man claims $338 million Powerball jackpot [Includes press conference video], Lottery Post, Mar. 26, 2013.)
After the happy day, events quickly turned sour.
Within days of claiming his prize, authorities said that Quezada owed tens of thousands in unpaid child support. Threatened with arrest, he immediately paid it off.
Also, soon after winning, Quezada offered to pay the rent of all the neighbors on his block. Later, he was accused of reneging on that promise.
Eight months after his win, Quezada's former live-in girlfriend took him to court for not sharing the jackpot. The suit was later dropped after the two agreed to a settlement. Later the two decided to reconcile.
Before winning the lottery, Quezada worked at a bodega in New Jersey after coming to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a teenager. At the time, it was reported that he had five children.
He bought lottery tickets daily at Eagle Liquor in Passaic.
If convicted on the current child sex charges, Quezada faces 40 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender, the prosecutor said. The first charge alone (first-degree aggravated sexual assault) carries a maximum term of twenty years in New Jersey State Prison.
Fortunately, Valdes also said that it appears there are no other victims at this time.
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
I remember Pedro! Didn't he promise to help relatives somewhere? Never pegged him for a predator. He has aged quite a bit.
Father time has not been kind to him. Too bad they couldn't use any money left over to pay for his prison time.
Todd would ban me if I said what I'd like to say. Suffice it to say you bait with something and they'll get you every time.
I accurately predicted he will end up in Jail like OJ because he is stupid and waits till the last minute to do the right thing. I said he was like the fat guy in the blues Brothers movie running from the law and just waiting to be locked up. But am surprised he made it thru four years I expected two years . Well it took longer for his crimes to be reported and processed this is really sad. And I also predicted people in Dominican republic will be spending his money for him and call him another crazy Yankee.
I wonder if this transpired after or prior to his winning lottery moment ?
All that money won't help him if there is a conviction on just one of the felonies.
I remember him. Although I could have sworn there was another winner who fled to Mexico for making out with $110000.
Me too, I remember him also. Didnt he flee to the Dominican Republic with all his money leaving the girlfriend?
He sure has changed A LOT in 4 years.
I would think winning the lottery would allow you to pay off back child support and any bills would be a relief.
Child sex assaults, throw the key away, what a sicko.
I wonder from a psych 101 perspective, if he committed the crimes after the win? The I am God syndrome and can get away with anything.
He will most likely take a plea deal and spend 10 yrs in Jail and out in seven yrs with probation. But however I also do think he may not make it out of jail alive due to bad health. Am not wishing him bad luck but think about it if he looks this terrible with $330 million dollars what will he be like in Jail not looking good . If this crime was committed before he won the lottery then this may be extortion plot but if he committed this after he won then I think he will go to jail for ten yrs and may only survive 5yrs . Am reading all this from my mind so let's put this information in a time capsule lol
He will probably die in prison if he is not protected bye the guards in state prison. Especially if he is in general population he will get beat down.-weshar75
Child molesters, child rapists, are not looked upon too kindly by fellow inmates.
Bubba is gonna have his way with him.
Additionally to max sentencing, If he is legally here & aside of restitution- he should be minimally required pay all court, legal fees and jail upkeep fees......and not the public
Just Think: If he had Claimed His Jackpot Anonymously: You Wouldn't be Reading this News Story Now!
A quote from a lottery video, "Winning the lottery does not build character it reveals character."
Lawsuits by the victims will soon follow.
If found guilty I hope the victims clean him out.
We'd still know about him B/C he's a bigmouth.
Yep and in the same vein....they say money doesn't change who you are it only magnifies it....
Another winner who didn’t deserve their win!
To think we all got pot blocked by some sex offender!
Wow- no longer innocent until proved guilty in this forum. I wonder if it's possible that the person (and her family members) making the accusation saw a pile of money and decided to take a shot at it- doesn't this seem like a possibility to anyone? Wouldn't want you guys on a jury of my peers lol!
How about "Pedro the Pig" because you can't really say what you'd like
Well let me put it very simple for you. If you look like Howie Mandel beards and Win millions in Powerball Just to look like a Taliban in four years or an isis member wanna be you are 100 percent guilty for anything I don't need to even read the charges . Looks like a Taliban Guilty as hell
You put it so simply for me that I don't know what the hell you're talking about but I do know that I sure don't want a further explanation.
I'm going to give the guy the benefit of a trial. The guy could be guilty as sin, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that he's innocent.
I'm with you on this accessment!
Scary that an allegation has already met the well informed posters of the school of assumption.
While I'd like to surmise an 'act' of this nature is unacceptable..And deemed worthy of awareness..I tend to think (as you do)..That $$ is playing a big part in the 'victim' coming forth...
I don't personally 'know' this man...So to give an opinion based on looks seems...Ohh I don't know...judge'MENTAL' ?
So if you look like Howie Mandel, all is good. But if you grow a beard, you must be guilty because in the eyes of a bigot, you now have the appearance of a terrorist, and that's all that matters. Your physical appearance. Yeah, okay. Got it. Reading you loud and clear.
Agreed. No one wakes up in their 40s and decides he suddenly finds prepubescent girls sexually irresistible. I've checked many sites and there's a distinct lack of information. As with this post, they're 99% fluff about him being a lottery winner, and almost no details re the actual charges. I'd love to believe that they wouldn't have arrested and charged him without sufficient corroborating evidence but I'm not that naive. I find it strange that with all the accusations and legal issues he had post-win, not a single person leveled a charge on him about sexual impropriety or assault. If he's a pedophile, then this accuser won't be the only victim. We should see someone else come forward or there will at least be proof of others. There should be something on his computers or phones. Why did he suddenly stop assaulting this girl her after 3 years and who did he replace her with when he did? He's not going to spend 3 years abusing one girl then quit cold turkey. Not unless he went for chemical castration. At this point, there are too many unanswered questions and far too many variables for me to be assured of his guilt just because he's been charged.
"the well informed posters"
What forum are those posters on? It's sure not this one.
I'm also curious about the lack of information on the crime and accusation. It may be possible that due to his substantial win, there may be scorn involved at his not sharing such a substantial amount with people from his past and hence an accusation. It is true that mothers sometimes convince their daughters to say false things against men in order to send them to jail. Not saying this is the case but that has happened in the past.
I also believe his accusers should not be assumed to be liars until the evidence shows otherwise. In our culture and in prior posts across lp (for example, a certain member rambling about women on dating sites), I have seen posts about women going for money. And yes, these posts were not lottery related.
If it is an active investigation, little info will be released.
SMH
Choose To:
I have found another saying, "Winning the lottery is like spreading miracle-grow all over your character defects".
This guy may very well be a creepy molester, or he may be guilty only of being a rich target. Going back on his promise to pay the rent of all his neighbors makes him a guy whose word means nothing, but it does not make him a child rapist. That's why we have a judicial system to give everyone a fair trial.
I think we all know that the truth or right does not always prevail at trials. Pedro has a lot of money for the
best criminal defense attorneys money can buy and the victim will be represented by state attorneys. However, accusers should never be retaliated against if they lose. It does not make them liars or money grubbers.
People are promised a trial of their peers and due process. Most attorneys will tell you that fairness plays a small to zero role. There was an ID channel recent show about a guy who killed his parents and was found not guilty. He had a documented history of sleep walking and was even tested as a child for it. Is this fair? No.