Family thought lottery win was a mistake — but NC jackpot prize was the real deal
A mother bought her son a North Carolina lottery ticket — and the prize left the two of them in disbelief.
“We didn’t believe it at first,” 21-year-old Bryan Castillo Quintana told the N.C. Education Lottery. “I thought it must be a mistake.”
But Quintana’s win was the real deal, and his ticket was worth $100,000.
Now, he will spend his extra cash on others. Quintana said his relatives could use the prize money after his dad died suddenly in 2020, according to lottery officials.
“My dad was such an integral part of our family,” Quintana said in an April 20 news release. “Now I’m just really excited that we have a form of stability in our life.”
Quintana’s family experienced the moment of good fortune after his mom went to a Sheetz convenience store in Greenville, roughly 85 miles southeast of Raleigh. At the North Memorial Drive location, officials said she spent $25 on a ticket for the Extreme Cash scratch-off game.
Later, the mother and son were in the family’s living room when they checked the lucky ticket and discovered the big prize. Quintana — a Greenville resident who hopes to be a nurse — reportedly kept $71,017 after taxes.
In addition to helping his family, Quintana said he plans to put his winnings toward bills.
It’s not the first time a parent has played a role in scoring a lottery win.
In Michigan, a woman became much richer after following her mom’s advice to try a jackpot game, McClatchy News reported in January.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 3:03 PM with the headline "Family thought lottery win was a mistake — but NC jackpot prize was the real deal."
