Pedro Quezada, the winner of the Powerball jackpot, talks to the media during a news conference at the New Jersey Lottery headquarter. Quezada , 44, won the $338 million jackpot with the winning ticket he purchased at Eagle Liquors store in Passaic, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Source: AP
THE man who won $338 million in a Powerball jackpot cannot claim his money until he pays off a $29,000 debt in child support.
Everyone wants to know where Pedro Quezada has gone into hiding since winning the Powerball jackpot, but none more so than the Passaic County Sheriff.
Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik said the outstanding $29,000 has to be paid before Quezada can cash out, The Daily News reported.
"The Sheriff’s Office Warrant Squad is attempting to notify Mr Quezada about the issue in an effort to have it resolved in a timely manner," Sheriff Berdnik said in a statement.
"Because of Mr. Quezada's large winnings, generally the New Jersey Division of Lottery would satisfy the judgment before all of the winnings are released. Like everyone else, until this warrant is satisfied, Mr. Quezada is subject to potential arrest," Berdnik said.
Quezada, 45, who won the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot of all time, owes $29,000 in child support payments.
He has five children, some of whom live in North Carolina, he said during Wednesday’s press conference to announce his winning ticket. It was not clear to whom the outstanding payments are supposed to be made, Huffington Post reported.
Officers from the Passaic County Sheriff’s department visited Quezada’s apartment in Passaic, New Jersey, yesterday but the family had split on Tuesday, immediately after learning of their incredible reversal of fortune.
Authorities are not alone in looking for Quezada, random people drawn to his sudden fortune are coming out of the woodwork to give him advice.
Pedro Quezada with his $US338 million cheque after winning the Popwerball lottery jackpot. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
One, a financial planner, drove to Passaic from Virginia today to leave his card at Quezada’s door, the Daily News reported.
“I figured I’d take a shot and see what’s going on,” said Sal Pena, 55. “I just want five minutes of his time.”
“You never know unless you try,” said Pena.
Relatives and friends Quezada left behind in Jarabacao, the Dominican town where he grew up, can’t wait to see him.
“His story is like a soap opera,” old family friend Francisco Obrero, 68, told the Daily News. “It should be called ‘From Nothing to Everything.’ ”
Quezada grew up in a cramped, one-story, wooden house with his parents and four siblings The new millionaire left for New York 26 years ago, leaving heartbroken girlfriend Juana Velen German, who dated Quezada for three years, beginning when they were about 17. She spoke for her entire community in the Dominican Republic when she praised his character, cheered his good fortune and hailed his humility.
“I felt very happy to see he won the lottery,” said German, 44. “He had always been very humble. He deserves this blessing more than anyone. He is making everyone here very happy.”
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