Largo man nicknamed ‘Mr. Blessed’ claims $1 million lottery prize from big January drawing
|
Version 0 of 1. Feeling lucky? Maryland lottery officials said they still have three fairly large unclaimed lottery winnings from the record-setting Powerball drawing of $1.6 billion in January. The tickets were sold for the Jan. 13 drawing and winners have 182 days from the day of the drawing to come — in person — to claim their prizes, according to lottery officials in Baltimore. Scores of would-be winners played for the biggest Powerball jackpot in the game’s history, and there were three winning tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee. But only the Tennessee winner has come forward so far. [Winners in Fla. and Calif. yet to claim prize in historic Powerball] In Maryland, the unclaimed Jan. 13 Powerball tickets include a $1 million ticket sold at a 7-Eleven on Annapolis Road in Bladensburg and two $50,000 tickets. One was sold at Sligo Beer & Wine in Silver Spring and another at Charlie Brown’s Tavern in Baltimore County. This week, a Largo man who won $1 million in the historic Jan. 13 Powerball drawing came to lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim his prize — albeit with his face covered. The state is one of six where winners can remain anonymous. Using only the name “Mr. Blessed,” the 40-year-old Largo man, who has three children, told lottery officials that he bought $20 worth of tickets for the Jan. 13 drawing at a BP gas station in Capitol Heights. The day after the big drawing, he said he went to get coffee at a 7-Eleven store and watched the news. He heard nothing about a winning ticket being sold in Prince George’s County. But later he said he checked his tickets and realized he had won something. “I just couldn’t believe it,” he told lottery officials. “It was an out-of-body experience.” [Three smaller winners from Md. and Va. after historic Powerball history] Still, he kept his winnings quiet, telling only immediate family members. He said he waited to claim his price and kept his winning ticket in a safe deposit box. And he followed advice his mother gave him — hire an attorney first. In his winner’s photo, he is shown holding an oversized check with his face covered and just a reddish-colored tie and dark-colored shirt showing. Mr. Blessed said he played the same numbers as he had a week earlier. “I feel truly blessed,” he said. “That’s what you call destiny.” Mr. Blessed told officials that he plans to start college funds for his three kids, set aside some for his retirement and invest some in his home maintenance company. The BP gas station will get $2,500 for selling a winning ticket. Powerball, which started in the 1990s, is played in 44 states, the District, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The winning numbers from the Jan. 13 Powerball drawing were 4-8-19-27-34 with a Powerball number 10. So before you chuck those “losers,” check them one more time. You might have even won your money back. |