A California man won $191 million dollars off a Mega Millions lottery ticket he bought in Primm, officials with California Lottery announced Friday.
Jack Freney bought the ticket at Primm Valley Lotto, a lottery retailer located at 31900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., which is a few feet west of the Nevada-California stateline and technically in California.
"This will allow me to correct all the wrong that I have incurred in my lifetime," Freney told California Lottery officials.
The jackpot was drawn Jan. 27, 2017, but Freney did not claim his winnings until this week. He told officials he plans on taking the lump sum payout of $114.1 million, less federal taxes.
The winnings numbers were 61, 53, 54, 17, 37, with Mega Ball number 8. The Megaplier was 3.
Primm Valley Lotto sells more California Lottery tickets than any other retailer in the state, according to lottery officials. The store will receive a $955,000 retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket, an amount that is not deducted from the winner's prize.
"Over the past few weeks, we've been anxiously waiting to see who won like everyone else. Out here at Primm, we pride ourselves on creating a one-of-a-kind experience and winning a jackpot like this is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience," Kerri Matherly, director of retail for Primm Valley Resorts, said in a statement.
Freney declined to pose for a celebratory photo and declined media interviews.
"This will allow me to correct all the wrong that I have incurred in my lifetime," Freney told California Lottery officials.
Congratulations to Mr Freney and hopes he is able to achieve his stated goals.
That is one of the most interesting statements from a winner. Did he mean injustices done to him or wrongs he did to others?
I hope he is going to correct wrongs he did, instead of the other.
Congrats to the lucky winner.
Both you brought up something I didn't read into what he said.
I read it as his correcting karma he caused so based my comment on that.
Winning this amount of money is enough revenge already. There is no longer any more desires, for gratuitous revenge butt kicking. I will also try to make amends for all the transgressions that I am responsible for, if any.
A California man won $191 million dollars ...
The Las Vegas media is reporting that the guy is a Californian, but I can't find any proof that he is. California lottery always names the city a winner lives in, but no city is given for Jack Freney. When the Acostas won a third of the $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot last year, it was announced that they were from Eastvale, CA. Even though they did not want to talk to the media, reporters showed up to their recently vacated house and talked to the neighbors.
Jack Freney may very well be from Nevada or even Arizona. He could have used a passport for ID and a private mailbox for an address. He may have even taken the trouble to obtain an account at a California bank. I don't think California lottery knows where Freney resides.
Congratulations Jack Freney! You have now won $114.1 million U.S. dollars. I am jealous and a little green.
I have seen those long lines that you patiently stood in to buy your winning ticket. In YouTube videos.
Do your best to stay out of the Police blotters. Do not darken the doorway of the Courthouse.
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So, if you dont have enough to go on the lam for a couple of months until your check is ready, what do you do? Claim your prize, go to your bank, show them the papers, take out a loan and then leave town??
I hate when the press shows up and takes photos of where people live. One young woman in Penn won I think $60 million. She wisely disappeared for a couple of months but the press turned up, took photos of the outside of her apt, and spoke to her neighbors, too.
Red55, Are you able to keep your win a secret? No one else will have a clue about your win.
I plan on trusting and telling three others.
I need a pair of new glasses. I stepped on and broke my previous ones in half. LOL
Before you collect your prize, you have to claim it. It is that period of time between claim and collection you have to worry about. Everyone will know after you claim it.
Lottery winners don’t need to leave town, just don’t answer the door or telephone. They can go out at night without worrying about the press, although the neighbors might be a problem. If you really want to leave you can live on your credit cards and/or stay with a relative.
I think a generic press conference is best. Tell them you are going to travel and buy a new house. Change your look so strangers won’t recognize you on the street, but don’t look crazy. You can wear a hat, glasses or wig. Grow/shave a beard or mustache.
I have seen the press contact out-of-state family members when the winner refuses a press conference. When Ira Curry of Georgia won, she hadn’t taken down her Facebook photos, so the press published them. They also contacted her sisters in the Bronx who still lived in their childhood apartment and I think their address was published. She would have had far more privacy if she had done the press conference.
Forget it! I'm not going to be blackmailed into giving free publicity to the lottery. I want to be left alone. Unfortunately, you have no idea how obnoxious the press can be. And no, I'm not going to wear a disguise. Sheesh!
Congratulations and enjoy your good fortune.
The lottery knows for sure that he is from California. State lotteries may respect wishes of winners not to release info to the public, but they absolutely require full knowledge of who the winner is and where they're from in order to claim the prize. That's how the Iowa Lottery prevented Eddie Tipton from claiming the $16 million jackpot he rigged, and eventually led to his arrest and conviction.