For Immediate Release:                                  Contact: Communications Office

April 3, 2014                                                                   (518) 388-3415

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MONROE, N.Y. – The New York State Lottery’s massive search for “Missing Millionaires” in the New York City Metro Region has resulted in a found Lottery millionaire.

Erwin Ishmael, 62, of Monroe, Orange County, came forward on January 2, 2014 to claim a $1 million Powerball ticket just before the January 5, 2014 deadline. Ishmael bought the winning ticket on January 5, 2013 at Star Wines and Liquors, 475 Route 17M, in Monroe, Orange County.

Ishmael said he knew just four days after the January 5, 2013 Powerball drawing that he had won the $1,000,000 second prize. He checked his numbers on the Lottery’s Website, then immediately signed the ticket and put it in his safe at home. Ishmael said he wanted to wait until 2014 to claim his ticket for tax purposes.

“We urged players to check and double-check their tickets one last time for the chance to claim one million dollars, and are very pleased that our efforts to find this missing Lottery millionaire have paid off,” said Gardner Gurney, Acting Director of the Division of the Lottery.

The winning Powerball ticket matched five of the six numbers from the January 5, 2013 Powerball drawing: 26 – 30 – 49 – 51 – 54, missing only the Powerball number of 25.

Ishmael claimed his winning ticket on January 2 at the Lottery’s Fishkill Customer Service Center. He will receive his Lottery prize in one lump sum totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.  He is New York State’s first Lottery millionaire to claim a prize in 2014.

When asked about his plans for the money, Ishmael said, “I plan to use all of the winnings for my retirement.”

The New York Lottery contributed $76,833,349.97 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Orange County during fiscal year 2012-13.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.04 billion in fiscal year 2012-2013 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 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.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.