(Photo: https://nylottery.ny.gov)
July 25, 2018 By Tara Law
Two Queens men were awarded giant ceremonial prize checks today after winning a combined total of $19.5 million before taxes in the New York Lottery.
New York Lottery host Yolanda Vega awarded Luigi Maccione, 49, and Andres Churg, 35, their prizes in an award ceremony at Resorts World Casino in Ozone Park, according to a release from the New York Lottery.
Andres Chung purchased his winning $10,000,000 Cash scratch-off ticket at Flushing Mini Food Mart at 169-4 35th Ave.
He said that he had stopped at the mini mart while on his way to work. He had previously won a $40 prize from the scratch-off game and decided to play it again.
“I scratched it and then ran to the car,” Chung said. “I must have sat there just staring at it for thirty or forty minutes.”
Chung will receive a lump sum of $6,330,400 after required witholdings, the lottery said. Chung told the lottery that that he plans to “stop paying rent and buy a nice house.”
Maccione, for his part, bought his winning $1 Quick Pick ticket at JR Auto Services on St. Nicholas Place in Manhattan on May 30. Although he had bought the ticket on the day of the drawing, he didn’t check the numbers— 1-25-36-40-56-57— until June 2.
He will receive $3,872,793 after required withholdings, the lottery said.
“I still can’t believe it,” said Macchione. “I plan to invest the winnings with the hopes of retiring a few years earlier than I originally planned.”
One Comment
Good for them. Please spend it wisely because it will be gone in a minute.