Winner of historic $2B Powerball sued by man who claims ticket was stolen from him

The winner of California’s document $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot final 12 months is being sued by a person who claims the ticket was stolen from him earlier than the profitable numbers have been revealed.

Edwin Castro received the record-setting prize within the November 2022 draw and was recognized in February. On the time he stated he was “shocked and ecstatic” and selected to simply accept the jackpot in a lump-sum fee of $997.6 million. 

That very same month he was recognized, a person named Jose Rivera filed a civil criticism in Alhambra Superior Court docket claiming the jackpot must be his. 

The go well with was filed in opposition to Castro, The California State Lottery Fee, the state of California and a person named Urachi F. Romero, whom Rivera accused of taking his ticket. 

Jose Rivera bought a lottery ticket for the $2.04 billion Powerball on Nov. 7, 2022 at Joe’s Service Heart in Altadena, California, someday earlier than the draw, based on the criticism.

However that very same day, Rivera alleges Romero stole the ticket. The criticism didn’t element how the alleged theft occur.

After Romero allegedly stole the ticket, Rivera made “quite a few requests and calls for to return it,” however Romero refused, based on the criticism. 

On Nov. 8, 2022 the profitable numbers have been drawn and Rivera made renewed requests for Romero to return the ticket. However, Romero allegedly responded by saying “the ticket was a loser or if I discover the ticket we will cut up the winnings 50/50,” the criticism stated.

Rivera reported the alleged theft to the California Lottery and legislation enforcement, based on court docket paperwork.

On Feb. 14, the California State Lottery Fee and State of California introduced Edwin Castro was the winner of the Powerball. Lottery officers stated they adopted a vetting course of to guarantee the ticket and declare have been professional.

Rivera offered a declare type to the California Lottery in Santa Fe Springs three days later claiming his ticket was stolen. 

That very same day his counsel despatched a letter to the California Lottery claiming the profitable ticket was stolen from Rivera.

“Up till the announcement on February 14, 2023, Mr. Rivera had been threatened that his profitable ticket could be destroyed if he didn’t agree to separate the winnings,” the letter to California Lottery stated. 

The criticism stated Rivera requested that California Lottery to protect all footage depicting the profitable ticket being bought at Joe’s Service Heart. 

Rivera says he’s entitled to the jackpot, claiming he suffered emotional damages, trespass to chattel (that means use of property with out an proprietor’s permission) and intentional interference with potential financial relations within the alleged ordeal. 

California Lottery stated it doesn’t touch upon pending litigation however expressed “utmost confidence” within the group’s vetting course of for winners.

“California Lottery stays assured that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion prize stemming from the Powerball drawing in November of 2022,” state lottery Deputy Director and spokesperson Carolyn Becker stated.

A summons was served on April 25 at a sprawling $25.5 million Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles house that was bought in March, based on on-line data. 

However the particular person on the house allegedly informed course of servers “we’re serving the improper Edwin Castro,” based on a Might 17 submitting. 

On Thursday, a movement to quash service of summons was filed by an legal professional for Castro. It stated that the summons was issued to Edwin H. Castro — the daddy of precise Powerball winner Edwin G. Castro.

A declaration hooked up to the movement by Edwin G. Castro, the precise jackpot winner, stated he has by no means personally been issued a summons. He acknowledged that the LA house his father was served at was his. He didn’t handle the claims concerning the ticket in his submitting.

A listening to is about for July 19 on that movement.