Players from Bayside, Whitestone, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Bushwick and Lynbrook Win Lottery Jackpot Prizes

NEW YORK, NY (05/16/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega today presented six over-sized prize checks worth at least $6,000,000 to New York's most recent Lottery millionaires. The six downstate winners received their checks at the Lottery's New York City Customer Service Center.

Bayside Finance Professional Wins $1,000,000 Powerball Second Prize

Forty-one-year-old finance professional Russell Irushalmi of Bayside, Queens won a $1,000,000 Powerball second prize from the drawing held on April 7. Irushalmi said his wife Lori, purchased the ticket April 5 during a routine morning stop for coffee at the 7-Eleven on Cross Island Parkway. Irushalmi said he learned of the couple's good fortune on the golf course.

"My wife called Sunday morning to tell me that we matched the first five numbers for a million," he said. "Ordinarily I would say there is nothing better than golf, but I wasn't getting any holes in one so this was pretty good news."

Irushalmi claimed the winning ticket April 19 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City. "She always uses the same numbers – a mix of birthdays and anniversaries," said Irushalmi. When asked what motivated his wife to buy their winning Powerball ticket, Russell explained, "That hope of winning is worth the $2. That little five-minute dream you have after buying the ticket is nice."

The couple plans to put the $1,000,000 cash prize (net $623,040,000) in the bank to pay for college for their children.

Whitestone Restaurant Owner Matches First Five Powerball Numbers, Wins $1,000,000

Constantine Dionysiou, 48, of Whitestone doesn't have to travel far from his restaurant to buy his Powerball tickets.

"I go next door to buy my tickets," said the native of Cyprus. And, such was the case on May 5 when Dionysiou visited the JJ Town Deli on Francis Lewis Boulevard to purchase five sets of Quick Pick numbers for that evening's Powerball drawing.

"The next day, I got a call from the store owner telling me his store had a big Powerball winner and told me to check my ticket," recalled Dionysiou. Dionysiou said he read his numbers over the phone and realized he was one number shy of winning the jackpot, but still a $1,000,000 winner. "I began to think that maybe he was joking with me," said Dionysiou. "I'm still in shock."

Dionysiou claimed his prize May 8 in Garden City. He will receive his prize in one net payment totaling $623,040. His plans for the money include paying bills and visiting family in Cyprus.

Retired NYC Firefighter from Flushing Wins Sweet Million Top Prize

Seventy-three-year-old Richard Nielsen of Flushing, Queens recently claimed a $1,000,000 prize from the April 26 Sweet Million drawing. Nielsen, a retired New York City firefighter, was with Engine 307 out of Jackson Heights for 37 years before "calling it a career." He bought his ticket on the morning of the drawing at Qwick Convenience and Cards on Farrington Street in Flushing.

"It's just part of my daily routine," explained Nielsen. "I always play Quick Pick too. It's just easier." The winning numbers for the April 26 Sweet Million drawing were 2 – 7 - 13 – 16 – 23 – 26.

Nielsen claimed his $1,000,000 top prize April 27 in Garden City after finding his winning numbers in the newspaper. All Sweet Million jackpot prizes are paid in a single, lump sum payment, netting the Queens native $623,040.

Nielsen said he plans to have a little fun with his windfall. "I'm going to get rid of it before I die because I can't take it with me."

Jackson Heights Teacher Finds $1,000,000 Sweet Million Ticket Buried in Bag

Lolymary Questel, 35, of Jackson Heights claimed a $1,000,000 Sweet Million prize from the drawing held on May 19, 2011. The pre-school teacher said no one was more surprised than her to learn she had a winning Lottery ticket worth $1,000,000 just lying around for almost a year.

"I was cleaning out an old bag and found some Lottery tickets," explained Questel. "I checked the drawing results on the Lottery's website and realized one of the tickets was a million dollar winner." Questel, a regular Mega Millions player, spent $1 on a set of Quick Pick numbers for the twice weekly Sweet Million drawing. "I believe in the 'dollar and a dream,'" she said. "Plus, it's fun."

The winning numbers for the May 19, 2011 Sweet Million drawing were 10 – 14 – 33 – 34 – 36 – 37. Lottery records confirm that Questel purchased her winning ticket on the day of the drawing at the Isha Mini Mart on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. She plans to invest some of her $1,000,000 jackpot prize (net $623,040) and set up college funds for her children.

Former Security Company Employee from Bushwick Wins at Least $1,000,000 on Win $1,000 A Week For Life Scratch-off

Pedro Pablo Martinez, Jr., 21, of Bushwick, Brooklyn recently claimed a guaranteed minimum prize of $1,000,000 on the Lottery's Win $1,000 A Week for Life scratch-off game at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Manhattan. The former security company employee said his story was pretty typical.

"I won a couple dollars on some other Lottery scratch-off tickets and used my winnings to buy a Win $1,000 a Week for Life ticket." Martinez said he brought the ticket home and scratched two 'Life' symbols and then scratched a little more to reveal the start of a third.

"I scratched the final 'Life' symbol and knew I won the jackpot," said Martinez. "I showed the ticket to my mother, and we agreed it was a blessing. The money won't change me."

As a top prize winner on the Win $1,000 A Week For Life scratch-off, Martinez is guaranteed to receive a minimum payment of $1,000,000 over 20 years. Once the $1,000,000 prize has been realized, he will continue to receive an annual check for $52,000 (net $32,398) a year for life.

The former security company employee plans to use his winnings to pursue a degree in architecture. His immediate plans for the money include taking vacations to the Dominican Republic and Poland. "I'm half Polish," he explained.

Martinez purchased his winning ticket at Top One Deli & Grocery on Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn.

Lynbrook Aircraft Supply Salesman Wins $1,000,000 Wheel of Fortune Scratch-Off Prize

Robert Corley, 35, of Lynbrook, Nassau County claimed the last $1,000,000 prize available on the Lottery's Wheel of Fortune scratch-off game. The game has since been retired.

Corley's father purchased the ticket April 23 at the Pop Shop on Hendrickson Avenue in Lynbrook and opted to give the ticket to Robert to claim. The pair claimed the prize later that same day at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City.

As for why Corley's dad opted to give the ticket to his son to claim, "It was a family decision," joked the aircraft supply salesman. "Maybe he really does love me!"

Corley will receive his $1,000,000 prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000 netting him $33,090 a year through 2031. Corley said he planned to use the money to take care of family. "And, yes," he said. "That includes my dad."

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's contribution represents nearly 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district's size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

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