The immigrant owner of a New Jersey convenience store has come forward to claim the $338.3 million jackpot in the Powerball lottery, media reports said Tuesday.
Pedro Quezada, 44, has handed in what he says is the golden ticket he bought on Saturday.
“I can’t believe it. I’m overwhelmed. I just can’t get over it,” the Dominican-born father of five was quoted as saying by the New York Post. “I was praying so much for this. I’m just giving thanks to God.”
Officials did not immediately announce Quezada’s win, but did confirm that the winning ticket, matching five numbers and a Powerball, was drawn in the Eagle Liquors store which he frequented in his hometown of Passaic.
Quezada appeared shocked by his success against 175 million to one odds, reports said. It was only on Monday, when he made his daily visit to Eagle Liquors, that he realized.
“He didn’t know he won when he came in because he stopped to check the board,” an employee told the Post. “He was shocked and emotional. He said, ?It’s me!'”
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