A jubilant deli worker and father of five claimed the fourth-largest Powerball payout Monday — and the store where he bought the golden ticket thinks it’s all due to the “lucky hand” of their lotto clerk.
Pedro Quezada, a 44-year-old Dominican native, couldn’t believe his fortune when he walked into Eagle Liquors in Passaic, N.J., to check the Powerball number — and was told he won the $338 million jackpot.
“I just learned right now, right now. Ay, Dios!” a shaking and smiling Quezada said in Spanish as reporters swarmed him.
Dozens of customers cheered and shouted along with him at the store, as he got on his cell phone to tell his wife.
“I’m the millionaire, Ines, put on the TV so you can see me, or come down to the liquor store right now,” an emotional Quezada shouted.
Quezada’s lump sum payout will end up being $211 million or $152 million after state and federal taxes, New Jersey Lottery Executive Director Carole Hedinger said Monday morning.
Quezada’s win defied the odds — roughly 1 in 175 million.
Eagle Liquors lottery clerk Pravin Mankodia — who believes God blessed him with a “lucky hand” — validated the $338 million ticket he had sold to Quezada Saturday night.
“I was thinking [Saturday] his ticket was a good ticket,” said Mankodia, 67.
Quezada was happy, but “nervous and tired,” he said.
“I’m going to help a lot of people, whatever they need,” said the Dominican native, who has lived in Passaic ever since leaving Santo Domingo as a young man.
Asked what it felt like to be a millionaire he said, “I still don’t know — I haven’t got the money yet.”
After a few minutes Quezada said the ebullient crowd was too much.
“I want to leave now, I’m ready to go,” he said, before bolting out the door and dashing down the street.
Casiano Quezada, his son, told the Daily News his father has been working for him since 2006 at the Apple Deli Grocery he owns in Passaic.
“My dad is really happy right now. We never expected this,” said the young man, who declined to give his age.
“We’re a little nervous right now with so much media attention. But we’re happy.”
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