The man who accused billionaire Powerball winner Edwin Castro of stealing the $2.04 billion ticket could be charged with filing a false police report.
Jose Rivera reported to Pasadena police that Castro had “stolen” the winning ticket from him.
Police and California Lottery investigators have been trying to determine if an alleged crime occurred, but now believe Rivera lied about his claim.
Lisa Derderian, public information officer for the city of Pasadena, told DailyMail.com that local police had turned over the documentation to the city’s attorney general for possible misdemeanor charges of filing a false police report.
Billionaire Powerball winner Edwin Castro was accused of stealing the winning ticket
Jose Rivera claimed that his former landlord stole the ticket and gave it to Castro
In California, if someone is convicted of filing a false police report, they could face up to six months in jail, a maximum of $1,000, and probation.
Rivera’s attorney, Estela Richeda, has fought hard for her client, telling The US Sun that she “personally” went with Rivera to the Pasadena police station to open the case against Castro.
They waited there for two hours before meeting the officers and insisting that they investigate the matter.
Rivera claimed the ticket was stolen by his former landlord “Reggie,” also known as Urachi F. Romero.
Romero said The New York Post that he saw Rivera with the winning ticket on November 7, the same night he claimed to have purchased it at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California.
He also claimed that he later received threats from Rivera, but insisted that he did not steal the ticket and that he did not know Castro.
After Rivera noticed he had “misplaced” the winning ticket, he stormed through the house Romero was renting to him at the time, looking for it.
Romero says he let him look through his personal items because he “had nothing to hide.”
The landlord then took a video of Rivera in his room as he frantically dug through his drawers.
Romero claimed the ticket could have come from a friend who was there the night before the drawing. He added that that friend had a connection with Castro and his family.
Castro made headlines after winning the $2.04 billion prize in November and has since spent his massive prize.
After taxes, Castro was able to claim his $997.6 million prize and bought his lavish pad just a month later, just after being sued by Rivera.
His 13,578-square-foot home in Hillside, California is equipped with a full outdoor kitchen, gym, wine cellar and infinity pool.
The three-storey property, which sits behind the iconic Chateau Marmont, has five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
It also features a cinema and sauna, as well as two separate garages that can accommodate up to seven cars.
Castro made headlines after winning the $2.04 billion prize in November and has since spent his massive prize
The pad was first listed for $30 million in July 2022, but it appears Castro has managed to shave $4.5 million off the top prize.
Castro has largely tried to avoid the spotlight after his record victory and the ongoing court battle.
His lawyer, David De Paoli, has said his client did not steal the ticket, has no connection to Romero and is the rightful owner of the jackpot prize.
Paoli told The US Sun that the lawsuit is “baseless” and that Rivera will not receive any compensation for it.
The CCTV footage of the store is yet to be obtained to prove who actually bought the ticket from the store.
Castro has been quiet since all the accusations, as the last time he spoke about his win was at a press conference at the gas station where he claimed the prize.
At the most recent hearing it was stated that because the case has taken such a sharp turn, the suspects will have to be served again.
A case management hearing is scheduled for February 27, 2024, while it was originally scheduled to take place this month.