The winner of California’s record Powerball jackpot of $2.04 billion last year is being sued by a man who claims his ticket was stolen before the winning numbers were revealed.
Edwin Castro won the record prize in the November 2022 draw and was identified in February. At the time, he said that he was «shocked and ecstatic» and chose to accept the jackpot in a one-time payment of $997.6 million.
That same month that he was identified, a man named José Rivera filed a civil lawsuit in the Alhambra Superior Court alleging that the jackpot should be his.
The lawsuit was filed against Castro, the California State Lottery Commission, the state of California and a man named Urachi F. Romero, whom Rivera accused of taking his ticket.
José Rivera purchased a $2.04 billion Powerball lottery ticket on November 7, 2022, at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California, one day before the drawing, according to the complaint.
But that same day, Rivera alleges that Romero stole the ticket. The complaint does not detail how the alleged theft occurred.
After Romero allegedly stole the ticket, Rivera made «numerous requests and demands to return it,» but Romero refused, according to the complaint.
On November 8, 2022, the winning numbers were drawn and Rivera again asked Romero to return the ticket. But Romero allegedly responded by saying «the ticket was a loser or if I find the ticket we can split the winnings 50/50,» the complaint states.
Rivera reported the alleged theft from the California Lottery and police, according to court documents.
On February 14, the California State Lottery Commission and the State of California announced that Edwin Castro was the winner of the Powerball. Lottery officials said they followed a vetting process to make sure the ticket and claim were legitimate.
Rivera filed a claim form with the California Lottery in Santa Fe Springs three days later alleging that his ticket was stolen.
That same day, his lawyer sent a letter to the California Lottery alleging that the winning ticket had been stolen from Rivera.
“Until the February 14, 2023 announcement, Mr. Rivera had been threatened to destroy his winning ticket if he did not agree to split the winnings,” the letter to the California Lottery stated.
The complaint says Rivera requested that the California Lottery retain all images showing the purchase of the winning ticket at Joe’s Service Center.
Rivera says he is entitled to the jackpot, alleging that he suffered emotional harm, burglary of personal property (i.e., use of property without the owner’s permission), and willful interference with potential financial relationships in the alleged trial.
The California Lottery said it does not comment on pending litigation, but expressed «the utmost confidence» in the organization’s vetting process for winners.
«The California Lottery remains confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion prize derived from the November 2022 Powerball drawing,» said Carolyn Becker, deputy director and spokesperson for the state lottery.
A subpoena was served on April 25 on a $25.5 million sprawl home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, that was sold in March, according to online records.
But the person at the house allegedly told process servers that «we are delivering the wrong Edwin Castro,» according to a May 17 filing.
On Thursday, a lawyer for Castro filed a motion to vacate the subpoena service. He said the subpoena was sent to Edwin H. Castro, the father of current Powerball winner Edwin G. Castro.
A statement attached to the motion from Edwin G. Castro, the actual jackpot winner, said he has never personally been issued a subpoena. He acknowledged that the Los Angeles home in which he served his father was his. He did not address the ticket-related claims in his filing.
A hearing has been set for July 19 on that motion.
NBC News has reached out to attorneys for Rivera and Castro for comment. Romero, who did not file a response in the court filing, could not be reached Friday.