Yolanda Vega today presented ceremonial prize checks worth $16.7 million to three downstate Lottery winners representing Long Island, Queens and Manhattan. The event, featuring multiple winners receiving multi-million dollar prize checks was held at Resorts World Casino in Queens, the highest-grossing video lottery casino in the United States.

Friday Night Lottery Ritual Finally Pays Off for Manhattan Warehouse Manager

Juan Mendez and his wife have a tradition of buying their Lottery tickets every Friday after work. They normally buy tickets for Take5, Powerball and Mega Millions, but on Friday, June 30 they decided to take a chance on LOTTO. Mendez purchased one LOTTO ticket for the July 1 drawing and matched all six numbers drawn earning him the $4,700,000 jackpot.

“It’s kind of funny, because that particular Friday I didn’t really feel like going out to buy our tickets,” explained the 45-year-old warehouse manager from Manhattan. “I’m sure glad my wife convinced me to go get our tickets that night!”

“I checked my numbers on the website and couldn’t believe my eyes. I must have checked the numbers ten times before I truly believed it was real!” he said.

The winning numbers for the July 1 LOTTO drawing were 20 – 32 – 40 – 46 – 52 – 54 and Bonus Number 16.

Mendez chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment totaling $2,018,143 after required withholdings.

“Winning this much money is very emotional,” explained Mendez. “I keep asking myself if it’s real.”

Mendez said his plans for the money are simple. “I’m going to pay off all of my outstanding debt and then buy a house for my family; one with a swimming pool for sure.”

Mendez purchased is ticket at Milena Pharmacy on Broadway in Manhattan.

General Contractor from Center Moriches Buys Lottery Ticket While Having Lunch with Mom, Wins $5,000,000 Jackpot

Twenty-four-year-old Eric DeBeauchamp of Center Moriches was out having lunch with his mom, when he decided to take a chance on the Lottery. He picked a $5 Million Fortune ticket and became an instant multi-millionaire after hitting the $5,000,000 jackpot prize.

“I was out to lunch with mom at a deli and decided to buy a scratch-off ticket to play while we waited,” explained DeBeauchamp. “I chose the $5Million Fortune ticket because it was ticket number 13 from that book of tickets. Thirteen is a lucky number so that’s the one I went with.”

DeBeauchamp scratched the ticket at the table and was stunned by what he saw. “I scratched off the automatic win symbol so I knew I had won something. When I saw the $5,000,000 prize underneath, I was stunned!”

Though stunned, DeBeauchamp kept his cool. “There were a lot of people in the deli so I tried to remain calm. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.”

DeBeauchamp purchased his ticket at the Pitstop Pantry on Montauk Highway in East Moriches. He will receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment totaling $3,309,000 after required withholdings.

“I’ve won a couple times before, but nothing like this,” he said. “I plan to use the money to buy a new house, take a few vacations and open my own business.”

Twenty-Six-Year-Old Administrative Assistant from Woodside Wins Guaranteed $7,000,000 CASH4LIFE Jackpot

Yangi Sherpa from Woodside in Queens is the latest Lottery player to win the guaranteed $7,000,000 jackpot prize on the popular CASH4LIFE draw game. She matched all five numbers plus the Cash Ball from the July 17 drawing on a ticket she bought on a whim.

“I was making deliveries for work and decided to buy a Lottery ticket,” explained Sherpa. “My father plays all the games and suggested I play CASH4LIFE. Why? I don’t know, but I’m sure glad I did!”

Sherpa purchased her ticket at Pronto Lotto on 74^th Street in Elmhurst. “I scanned my ticket the following day without really thinking about winning anything. When it said ‘big winner’ I brought it home and checked it four or five times before telling my parents.”

The winning numbers for the July 17 CASH4LIFE drawing were: 08 – 17 – 27 – 28 – 39 and Cash Ball 02.

Sherpa opted to receive her $7,000,000 prize as a one-time lump sum payment. She will receive a net check totaling $4,361,280 after required withholdings.

“Luck is luck – there is no explanation,” said Sherpa of her windfall. “There are lucky people in this world, and today I am one of them.”

Sherpa plans to purchase a new house for her family with the winnings.

The New York Lottery contributed $260,477,609 and $1,303,190,659 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Suffolk County and New York Counties respectively during fiscal year 2016-2017.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.27 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 14 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.