Six New Yorkers Receive Lottery Prize Checks Worth More Than $18,000,000

BROOKLYN, NY (02/02/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Lottery icon Yolanda Vega today introduced six new Lottery millionaires at Kings Plaza in Brooklyn. The day's biggest winner was Sharisee Frails who collected $13,500,000 for matching all six numbers from the December 21, 2011 Lotto drawing. Five other winners hailing from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Congers (Rockland County), and Queens also received prize checks totaling $5,000,000.

Brooklyn Mother of Two Hits $13,500,000 Life Changing Lotto Jackpot

Sharisee Frails, 42, of Brooklyn stopped at the Express Stop on Livingston Street in Brooklyn to pick up something to drink and decided to purchase her weekly Lotto tickets while she was there. She certainly chose the right store to visit. The Quick Pick ticket she bought had the correct winning combination (1 – 15 – 38 – 41 – 50 – 52) for the December 21, 2011 Lotto drawing making Frails the sole winner of the $13,500,000 jackpot.

"It's mind-boggling," said Frails of her multi-million dollar win. "I didn't tell anybody initially. I simply just wrote it down in my secret diary."

Frails opted to receive her $13,500,000 jackpot prize in one lump sum payment with a cash value of $9,188,239. Her net check will total $5,724,640. "My family and I have been maintaining for years. This win will allow us to live a more comfortable life now," she explained.

Brooklyn Man Makes Slight Change of Strategy and Hits $1,000,000 Sweet Million Jackpot

Dorian Gray, 56, of Brooklyn plays Lottery games for the chance to win a life changing jackpot. That day has finally come for the Jamaican born New Yorker. Gray matched all six numbers from the November 7, 2011 Sweet Million drawing, earning him a $1,000,000 pay day. The parts advisor for a local car dealership in Brooklyn says he owes his good fortune to a slight change in his strategy.

"I've been using the same Lotto numbers for 20 years. One of those numbers is 53, but Sweet Million only goes up to 40. I decided to turn it around and use 35 instead," he explained. That minor switch resulted in the loyal Lottery player's biggest pay day to date. The results from the November 7, 2011 Sweet Million drawing were: 2 – 6 – 17 – 23 – 35 – 37.

Gray purchased his jackpot winning ticket at the 7-Eleven on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The $1,000,000 prize on the Sweet Million game is paid as a lump sum. Gray will receive a one time, net payment totaling $621,540. He said of his plans for the windfall, "I don't know exactly what I'll do with the money. I have four children. I'll help them out with their student loans and put some away for the grandkids."

Retired Truck Driver Credits Random Luck For His $1,000,000 Sweet Million Scratch-Off Win

Gene Barclay walked into the Bina Drugs on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn and asked the clerk for a couple of $5 lottery tickets. The clerk randomly chose two Sweet Million scratch-off tickets and handed them to Barclay. When he scratched the tickets later that night at home, the seventy-three-year-old Brooklyn retiree was stunned to find that one of them was a $1,000,000 winner.

"When I saw that I had matched the number 11 with the word 'jackpot' underneath, it felt like I was in a dream," said Barclay. "I immediately hid the ticket in one of my dresser drawers and tried to get some sleep. I kept waking up all night thinking it was all a dream."

Barclay will receive his $1,000,000 prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000. His annual net check will total $31,152. "My girlfriend and I have a house here in New York that we might fix up and sell. She also owns a house in Puerto Rico that we'll work on as well."

Bronx Man Always Had a Feeling One Day He Would Win a Sweet Million Jackpot;

That Day Has Come

Stephen McDonagh, 38, from the Bronx was convinced he would one day win the $1,000,000 jackpot on the Sweet Million draw game. On December 22, 2011 the engineer for an area hospital was proven right. McDonagh matched all six numbers from that night's drawing making him an instant Lottery millionaire.

"I always had it in my head that I would win this game," explained the lucky winner. "I always play Sweet Million, and when I checked my numbers, I had to tell my sister. I needed someone to tell me I wasn't crazy," he joked.

McDonagh purchased his jackpot winning Sweet Million ticket at the Woodlawn Gift Shop on Katonah Avenue in the Bronx. He will receive his $1,000,000 as a one time, net payment totaling $623,040.

"I know exactly what I'm going to do with the money. I'll buy a house, and then take a trip to Ireland and find a beach where nobody knows my name."

Dedicated Win a $1,000 a Week For Life Scratch-Off Retiree From Glendale Hits

the Jackpot of a Lifetime

"I've been playing the Win for Life ticket since they started selling it," explained seventy-eight-year-old Judith Zwierko. The retired key punch operator scratched off three "life" symbols earning her the jackpot prize on the Lottery's popular Win $1,000 a Week for Life ticket.

"As soon as I scratched off the 'life' symbols, I knew I was a millionaire. I'm still in shock over it, but it offers some piece of mind knowing I'll continue to receive payments forever," said Zwierko.

Zwierko purchased her ticket a J M Deli and Grocery on 88th Street in Glendale. She is guaranteed to receive a minimum of $1,000,000 over the next 20 years. She will receive a minimum of 19 annual payments of $52,000 (net $32,398) each and a 20th payment of $12,000 (net $7,447) to realize her $1,000,000 minimum prize. After that, Zwierko will continue to receive an annual net check totaling $32,398 for life.

"The money will not only help out with mortgage payments and other bills, but now I'll be able to fix up the house and go on the cruises I've always dreamed of," she said.

Congers Man Takes Advantage of a Sweet Million Promotion and Wins $1,000,000 Jackpot

Joe Cunnane of Congers, Rockland County plays Sweet Million for one reason. "The chances of winning the jackpot are slightly better than average," explained the retired chiropractor. Cunnane took advantage of the Lottery's January promotion of Buy $5 in Sweet Million tickets and get $3 in Quick Picks free to give himself an even better chance of hitting the jackpot. As luck would have it, it was one of his free Quick Pick tickets that earned him his $1,000,000 pay day.

"I had to take my dog Buddy for a walk, so I went down to the corner store to buy some tickets. I noticed the promo they were running and gave it shot. I'm used to winning maybe $20, but this is unreal," he explained.

Cunnane purchased his winning ticket at the KS Mart on Lake Road in Congers. He will receive his $1,000,000 as a one time, net payment totaling $661,802. "This is all a wonderful dream that I hope I don't wake up from. I haven't really convinced myself I actually won $1,000,000, but I'm sure my wife will help me figure out how to spend it," joked Cunnane.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing over $3 billion in fiscal year 2010-2011 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's aid represents over 15 percent of total state education funding to local school districts.

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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