The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega today awarded a Utica man with his $5,000,000 scratch-off prize at the store where he purchased his lucky ticket.  Forty-nine-year-old Michael Shepard purchased his jackpot winning 100X the Cash ticket at the Prize Chopper on Genesee Street in Utica during a routine stop to cash his paycheck.

“I stop every Friday to cash my paycheck,” explained Shepard.  “While I was there I bought the ticket out of the vending machine.”

Shepard said it didn’t immediately sink in at first.  “I think my friends were more excited than I was. I called my financial guy to get some advice and then brought it to the Lottery the claim the prize.”

The $5,000,000 top prize on the 100X the Cash ticket is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment. Shepard will receive a net check totaling $3,359,000 after required withholdings.

Shepard said he plans to be smart with his newfound riches. “I’ll listen to my investment adviser and be smart.  I do plan to take a vacation somewhere warm in the near future.”

When asked how it feels to be Oneida County’s newest Lottery millionaire he said, “It’s a dream come true.  This is my chance to change my life.”

Shepard is the 20th New York Lottery player to claim a prize totaling $1,000,000 or more this year.

As of this writing there are four outstanding top prizes available on the 100X the Cash ticket.  Players may check the status of any New York Lottery Scratch-off game by clicking the Instant Games Reports link at nylottery.ny.gov.

The New York Lottery contributed $57,898,104 in Lottery Aid to Education to school districts in Oneida County during fiscal year 2017-2018.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.37 billion in fiscal year 2017-2018 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 13 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.