Two months after the Powerball lottery reported that a single ticket was awarded in California with the $1 billion jackpot, authorities have not reported that the winner has claimed the fortune.
The winning ticket from the July 19 drawing was sold at Las Palmitas Mini Market, located in the Skid Row neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles.
The morning after the drawing, a woman arrived at the business, owned by a Salvadoran woman, and claimed to be the winner.
The woman, who appeared to be crying and did not identify herself, covered her face and hugged other customers of the establishment.
When a reporter asked her if she was the winner, she shouted yes.
“I’m scared right now, I’m so scared,” she added. When members of the press tried to ask her more questions, she replied “I can’t.”
So far, there is no information that confirms that, in fact, the stranger is the winner of the “jackpot” or that she has claimed the prize.
The managers of the grocery store considered that it was a farce and added that the woman is not a local customer or that they recognize and that she just wanted to appear on television.
The California Lottery said in a statement in response to the news that the official winner announcement process could be extended as all claims to the California Lottery for jackpot prizes are subject to a security investigation.
“Part of that process involves an interview of the person by the California Lottery official before being declared a winner. The interview involves questions about the point of sale of the winning ticket. There are aspects of the ticket that are not disclosed to help protect the integrity of the winning. These standard security procedures can take weeks or months to complete; The California Lottery processes more than 10,000 claims per month at its headquarters in Sacramento,” the office detailed.
Currently, also in California, José Rivera is contesting in court the $2 billion jackpot that was claimed by Edwin Castro.
Rivera filed a lawsuit with the Los Angeles County court system alleging that Castro collected the largest prize in lottery history after another Hispanic man, identified as Urachi F. Romero, allegedly stole his winning ticket. The California State Lottery Commission is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit seeking damages.
The cash value of the $1 billion jackpot is $558.1 million. The winning numbers of the draw were: 7,10, 11, 13, 24, and the Powerball, 24.
According to lottery rules in California, to claim the prize in a single cash payment, winners have 60 days from the date of the drawing. Based on that provision, the period for the winner to request the money through that option has already passed.
Once that period of time is met, the person will receive the profits divided into 30 annual payments.
The total deadline to claim the jackpot is 180 days from the spin date.
Keep reading:
Who is the woman who deceived everyone by claiming to be the winner of the $1 billion Powerball in California?
How should you claim a jackpot like the $1 billion Powerball before the lottery announces the winner?
$1 billion Powerball jackpot remains in California, where lawsuit is being filed for alleged theft of the $2 billion winning ticket in the same drawing