$338M lotto winner barred from claiming winnings

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.”

View the original article here

$2.6m lotto winner has just $10 left

A MAN who won $2.6 million in a lottery has told how he blew the lot and now has less just $10 in the bank.

Roger Griffiths spent his prize on luxury cars, business deals and reuniting the rock band he was in as a teenager.

At one point, he earned almost $700 in interest every day, but a series of ill-advised deals resulted in his cash disappearing.

Pictures: Lottery winners who turn losers

The 42-year-old British father of two took to YouTube and told The Sun that his lottery win had been a "poisoned chalice" after it led to the break-up of his marriage and the loss of the family home.

Mr Griffiths had been working in IT when he scooped more than $2.6 million on a UK lottery in 2005.

Roger Griffiths (with guitar) and his band. He blew $2.6 million in lottery winnings. Picture: via Facebook

He and his wife Lara immediately quit their jobs and threw themselves into a jetset lifestyle, buying a new home, sending their kids to posh schools and taking lavish holidays abroad.

Mr Griffiths also paid close to $50,000 to make a record with his old band, FMB, which ended up selling just 600 copies.

One bad investment turned sour during the GFC, leading to the loss of the couple's home and the end of their marriage.

"I had it all, but now it's gone," Mr Griffiths told the Sun. 'I've been borrowing money from my parents - that's how bad it is."

He has now started working again as a freelance recruitment consultant, but spends most of his income on the bills he racked up during his short-live period of wealth.

"The money I bring in goes on bills I racked up during the heyday and there’s just not enough to cover them. If it wasn’t for my family helping me financially I’d be in trouble. Looking back the lottery win was like a poisoned chalice.”

View the original article here