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A California gas station worker who sold a record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball ticket called a man who launched a legal action alleging his “winning ticket” was stolen “crazy.”
After months of anticipation, Altadena resident Edwin Castro was identified as the winner of November’s historic jackpot. He opted to take a lump sum payment option of $997.6 million.
Castro did not attend a news conference at the California Lottery’s headquarters in Sacramento, and other than his name, no other information was released.
However, the victory has been marred by controversy, as Altadena resident José Rivera claims he is owed a portion of the profits. Workers at Joe’s Service Center tell DailyMail.com a different story.
A worker at a California gas station who sold a record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball ticket called a man who launched a legal action claiming his “winning ticket” was stolen “crazy”
After months of anticipation, Altadena resident Edwin Castro was identified as the winner of November’s historic jackpot, opting to take a balloon payment option of $997.6 million.
“The California Lottery has strict regulations on how they pick a winner, this guy is crazy, he came here with his lawyer yelling about it and there’s nothing we can do,” they said.
The worker who asked to remain anonymous said the California Lottery obtained video footage of the gas station and examined the winner “frame by frame” and “second by second.”
The California Lottery has echoed these sentiments, saying they are “confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion prize.”
“When it comes to the process of vetting grand winners, the California Lottery has the utmost confidence in its process to do so,” they said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
“The California Lottery remains confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion prize derived from the November 2022 Powerball drawing.”
The organization added that it “is not authorized to investigate any criminal activity among its players.”
“Such allegations are subject to investigation only by local police,” they said.
“If a local law enforcement agency investigates such allegations, the Lottery’s sole role is to assist in the matter by answering questions and/or providing evidence as permitted by law.”
first reporter by TMZLegal documents obtained by the outlet claim that Rivera had purchased his lottery ticket at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California, on November 7, but it was stolen the same day.
Rivera claims that a man named ‘Reggie’ took the ticket and after drawing the numbers, tried to retrieve the winning ticket to no avail.
It is claimed that Reggie told Rivera that the ticket was a bust, but that if he turned out to be a winner, he would forfeit half of the winnings.
Rivera said he “refused to be blackmailed” and reported the theft to the CA Lottery and law enforcement.
Castro and Reggie have been named as two separate defendants. He is asking the court for damages and to declare him the winner of the historic $2.04 billion jackpot.
DailyMail.com has contacted Castro and Rivera for comment.
Joe Chahayed, owner of Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California, sold the $2.04 billion Powerball ticket. Chahayed made $1 million for selling the ticket at his store
Chahayed, the father-in-law of former NFL player Domata Peko, held up a huge check outside his gas station with his family wearing a “Millionaire Made Here” T-shirt.
Castro wasn’t the only person to win big after the record breaking announcement.
Joe’s Service Center owner Joe Chahayed won $1 million selling the record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball ticket.
At the time, Chahayed said that he would share the proceeds with his entire family.
Chahayed, the father-in-law of former NFL player Domata Peko, held up a huge check outside his gas station with his family wearing a “Millionaire Made Here” T-shirt.
“We’re excited,” he said at a news conference with the California Lottery in November of last year.
I will share it with the family, with whatever is necessary, with my children, my grandchildren. I have 11 grandchildren and I will share with them.’
His son, who was at the press conference, said “nobody else deserves it more than this man.”
The winning ticket, 10, 33, 41, 47, 56 and Powerball 10, was sold at the Altadena store and Chahayed said he was excited to see one of the ‘poor’ neighborhood residents win big.
“He has worked hard all his life and he deserves it all,” said his son, who was not identified.
The winning ticket (10, 33, 41, 47, 56 and Powerball 10) was sold at the Altadena store and Chahayed said he was excited to see one of the “poor” neighborhood residents win big.
“It’s a very poor neighborhood,” he said at the time.
‘From the bottom of my heart, I was hoping someone would win, they deserve it. The poor deserve it.