Powberball, Powerball, Powerball! Five Winning Tickets Sold in New York

NEW YORK, NY (08/30/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Lottery jackpot announcer Ralph Buckley today introduced New York's newest Lottery millionaires. The winners, consisting of Powerball group players, single Powerball players and scratch-off winners were presented with their ceremonial over-sized checks totaling $8,000,000.

A Group of 22 Co-workers from a Manhattan Car Dealership Win $1,000,000

Powerball Prize

About four years ago, 22 co-workers from a Manhattan car dealership started pooling their money together with the hopes of winning a big Powerball or Mega Millions prize. On July 7, 2012, the four-year wait ended. The group matched the first five numbers from that night's Powerball drawing earning them a $1,000,000 payday.

"We start pooling our money together when the jackpots reach $50 million dollars," explained the group's spokesperson, Ernesto Soberano. "Another member of the group knew we won, but didn't tell anyone because I was the one that held onto the ticket. When I showed up to work on Tuesday morning, he gave me the good news. I immediately started dancing and everyone came over to see why. That's when the word of our win really started to spread," explained Soberano.

The $1,000,000 prize is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment. The group will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. Some of the group member's plans for their portion of the winnings include vacations, new cars, saving for college expenses and investment savings.

The winning numbers from the July 7 Powerball drawing were 3-5-29-39-59, Powerball 29.

The group of 22 formed a limited liability company, INM Twenty Two LLC, following the July 7 Powerball drawing. The group consists of:

Mirella Blazina of Astoria Romulo Jimenez of Brooklyn

James Bodner of Brooklyn Maria Morales of Elmhurst

Angel Castillo of the Bronx Tania Pacuruco of New York City

Silfredo Castillo of the Bronx Jose Pena of Brooklyn

Hector Diaz of Brooklyn Raul Perez of Brooklyn

Nina Diogenes of Jersey City, NJ Guy Poindujour of Queens

Phil Ducusin of Jersey City, NJ Custodio Rodriguez of New York City

Robert Garcia of Clinton, MD Giuseppe Schettini of Staten Island

Ronald Gonzalez of Elmhurst Ernesto Soberano of Long Island

Matteo Guardavaccaro of Staten Island Frank Ulloa of New York City

Stennett Isles of Brooklyn Joshua Woolcott of Coram

The New York Lottery contributed $1,110,484,399.89 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York City** during fiscal year 2011-2012.

The New York Lottery contributed $103,332,229.34 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Nassau County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

The New York Lottery contributed $198,702,595.17 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Suffolk County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Three Friends That Started Playing Powerball Together 10+ Years Ago Finally Cash In

Anthony Criscione of Ryebrook, Michael Giuffre of the Bronx, and Frank Mondrone of Pelham Manor have been friends for 30 years. More than 10 years ago they started purchasing Powerball tickets together, and on July 11 the trio won a $1,000,000 second prize.

"It's nice to win with friends. It's a big accomplishment," explained Mondrone. Mondrone will receive half of the $1,000,000 lump sum payment because he in charge of purchasing and checking the group's tickets. After required withholding his net check will total $330,900.

Criscione and Giuffre will split the remainder of the prize. Criscione will receive a net check totaling $165,450, and Giuffre's net share totals $155,760. All three winners plan to use their portion of the winnings helping their families.

The winning numbers from the July 11 Powerball drawing were 5-22-36-49-55, Powerball 23.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,110,484,399.89 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York City** during fiscal year 2011-2012.

The New York Lottery contributed $63,526,317.29 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Westchester County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Eight Co-workers Win $1,000,000 Powerball Prize on a Free Quick Pick Ticket

The New York Lottery routinely runs promotions in which players receive a free Quick Pick ticket when they purchase a $10 Powerball ticket. A group of eight co-workers took advantage of that promotion for the August 4 drawing, and the free Quick Pick ticket they received turned out to be a $1,000,000 winner.

"I usually collect everyone's money on Wednesday because that's pay day," explained Jose Benitez. "I checked the ticket the day after the drawing, and when I realized we won a million dollars, I couldn't believe it. I immediately started calling everyone else to tell them the news."

The $1,000,000 prize is paid as a one-time lump sum payment. The group will split the prize evenly with each member receiving $125,000 before required withholding. The member's plans for their winnings include vacations, saving for retirement, new houses and investing.

The winning numbers from the August 4 Powerball drawing were 19-30-48-53-55, Powerball 18. The eight member group includes:

Jose Benitez of Milford, PA Derrick Davila of Flushing

Thomas Cancelliere of Long Beach Patrick Feeney of Congers

Michael Christiani of Washingtonville Ralph Picarelli of Trumbull, CT

Vincent Crispino of Staten Island George Torres of Brooklyn

The New York Lottery contributed $1,110,484,399.89 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York City** during fiscal year 2011-2012.

The New York Lottery contributed $103,332,229.34 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Nassau County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

The New York Lottery contributed $72,191,677.05 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Orange County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

The New York Lottery contributed $23,189,142.84 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Rockland County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Routine Stop for Powerball Tickets Earns North Babylon Man $1,000,000 Win

Joseph Pegno of North Babylon in Suffolk County made a routine stop for a bottle of water and his daily Lottery tickets. Something told him to buy a couple extra Powerball tickets that day. Pegno made the right decision. The fifty-eight-year-old matched the first five numbers from the July 18 Powerball drawing earning him a $1,000,000 pay day.

"I don't know why but something told me to spend an extra couple of bucks for Powerball that day," explained Pegno. "I scanned my tickets at the store the next day, and the machine went berserk."

The $1,000,000 Powerball prize is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment. Pegno will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.

The winning numbers from the July 18 Powerball drawing were 2-5-20-23-57, Powerball 3.

The New York Lottery contributed $198,702,595.17 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Suffolk County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Quick Stop After Dinner Earns Mount Sinai Powerball Player a $1,000,000 Win

Anthony Veraldi and his wife were on their way home from dinner when he stopped at the gas station to fill up his tank. While there he purchased a few Powerball tickets. He checked his tickets the next day and knew immediately he won the $1,000,000 second prize, but saved the announcement until he got home.

"I waited to tell my wife because I wanted to see the expression on her face," explained Veraldi. "I did send her an email earlier in the day letting her know I had some great news to share when I got home."

The $1,000,000 Powerball prize is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment. Veraldi will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. He plans to use his prize money enjoying life with his family.

The winning numbers from the August 8 Powerball drawing were 3-7-11-15-28, Powerball 12.

The New York Lottery contributed $198,702,595.17 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Suffolk County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Spur of the Moment Stop at Corner Store Proves Wise for Bronx Scratch-Off Winner

Eric Jones ran outside to get something out of his car. While outside, he decided to stop at the corner store and to purchase his daily Win 4 Lottery tickets. Jones hadn't purchased scratch-off tickets for some time, but decided to buy a couple $1,000,000 Payday tickets with some extra money he had. It proved to be the right decision because one of those tickets turned out to be a $1,000,000 winner.

"I am friends with the owners of the store, so I scratched the tickets right there. When I saw that I had matched the number 20 with the word 'jackpot' underneath, I just started shaking," said Jones. "I couldn't believe my eyes!"

The $1,000,000 top prize on the $1,000,000 Payday scratch-off ticket is paid in 20 annual payments of $50,000. Jones' annual net check will total $27,509.62 after required withholdings. Jones' plans for the money include a vacation. "I've always wanted to visit St. Martin. Now I can finally go there and take a nice vacation."

The New York Lottery contributed $1,110,484,399.89 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York City** during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Queens Man Randomly Chooses $1,000,000 Payday Ticket and Wins $1,000,000 Jackpot

Chandrakant Patel didn't have a strategy when he decided to buy a $1,000,000 Payday scratch-off ticket on July 5. He simply went to the store, looked at the tickets and picked one. He made the right choice. The ticket he chose turned out to be a $1,000,000 winner making the sixty-one-year-old an instant Lottery millionaire.

"I looked closely at the $1,000,000 Payday ticket and decided, I want this one," explained Patel. "I brought it home with me and scratched it later that day. I was very happy when I realized I had hit the jackpot."

The $1,000,000 top prize on the $1,000,000 Payday scratch-off ticket is paid in 20 annual payments of $50,000. Patel's annual net check will total $31,152 after required withholdings. He plans to invest some of his winnings and put some toward his children's education.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,110,484,399.89 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York City** during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Thirty-Seven-Year-Old Queens Man Wins Lottery Prize of a Lifetime

Saeeb Yasin has a specific routine when he buys his scratch-off tickets. He arrives at work, makes coffee, checks his Lottery tickets from the previous day and then buys his new tickets. On August 8 he followed his normal routine, but that day his life changed forever. Yasin purchased a jackpot winning Win $1,000 a Week for Life ticket guaranteeing him a minimum payout of $1,000,000.

"When I saw the words 'Life', 'Life', 'Life', I knew right away I won," explained Yasin. "I stayed calm and signed the ticket right away. Then I took a picture of it with my cell phone and sent it to my wife. She couldn't believe it was true and kept calling me back because she didn't believe me."

Yasin is guaranteed to receive a minimum of $1,000,000 over the next 20 years. He will receive a minimum of 19 annual payments of $52,000 (net $32,398) each and a 20th payment of $12,000 (net $7,477) to realize his $1,000,000 minimum prize. After that, Yasin will continue to receive an annual net check totaling $32,398 for life.

"I feel very lucky right now. The money will help me get ahead a little and make it a little easier to live," he said.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,110,484,399.89 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout New York City** during fiscal year 2011-2012.

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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