Disbelief hits player in LA County

Drawing Date: 6/16/2017

October 23, 2017 – We now know the name of the person who won nearly $1 million on a Mega Millions ticket sold in Los Angeles County. Eliseo Gutierrez had the ticket that matched five out of the six draw numbers called on June 16. Even though he was just one number shy of hitting the $113 million jackpot up for grabs that night, the 58-year-old is not complaining. “I give thanks to God,” Gutierrez said. “This is a blessing.”

That’s because the prize he won by matching those five numbers amounted to $906,649 (less Federal taxes). Wow, just stop and think about how much money that is! Gutierrez certainly has, which is why he and his wife have their eyes set on an even bigger prize. “We’re planning to get our own place!”

Gutierrez purchased his lucky ticket at Chevron Service Station, which is located at 206 North Vincent Avenue in West Covina, Calif. “Like everybody else, we play thinking that someday will be your lucky day,” Gutierrez said. His ticket matched the winning numbers 18-26-44-30-22, missing only the Mega number 9.

Gutierrez, who works in manufacturing, told us he had the ticket in his wallet the entire time and didn’t think about it until recently. He was still well within the 180-day timeframe allowed to claim his prize (79 days remained at the time he claimed on September 25), but let this be a reminder: Each California Lottery winner is encouraged to sign the back of their ticket in ink, keep it in a safe place where they’ll remember and visit any of the Lottery’s nine District Office locations to claim.

Even after confirming the win, Gutierrez told us he couldn’t grasp what he was seeing at a Lottery Check-A-Ticket machine. “Then I drove to another place where they have a scanner machine,” Gutierrez said. Different place, but with the same incredible results. “Thanks to the Lottery,” the grateful winner said. “You guys change many lives!”