Endicott Man Wins $1,000,000 Prize From Valentine’s Day Drawing

Drawing Date: 2/14/2014

March 27, 2014 - Richard Gusefski, 51, of Endicott, Broome County, N.Y., won a $1,000,000 Mega Millions prize from the February 14, 2014 drawing.

The day of the Mega Millions drawing was Valentine’s Day, and Gusefski went to the Weis Markets on Day Hollow Road in Endicott after work to do some grocery shopping. Gusefski said he saw that the Mega Millions jackpot for that night’s drawing was high, so he decided to buy a ticket. The advertised jackpot was $139,000,000.

The following Monday, Gusefski checked his ticket and said, “I was in front of the television and checked the numbers on my tablet. I saw the first five numbers, and then realized I was one off on the Mega Ball so, no jackpot. Then I checked to see what five numbers paid and felt pretty happy about the million.”

Gusefski said his plans for the money include paying some bills and saving for his children’s college funds.

Gusefski claimed his prize on February 21 at the Lottery’s Syracuse Customer Service Center. He will receive his $1,000,000 Mega Millions prize in one lump sum totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. The winning numbers for the February 21 Mega Millions drawing were 20-28-35-71-72 and Mega Ball 07.