N.J. deli employee wins $338M Powerball jackpot
Baku, March 27 (AZERTAC). A 44-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic is the winner of a $338 million Powerball lottery jackpot.
Pedro Quezada learned of his good fortune when he walked into the Eagle Liquors in Passiac, N.J., to check his ticket Monday, the New York Daily News reported. Customers in the store erupted in cheers as Quezada called 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," the Daily News reported an emotional Quezada shouted.
Quezada told reporters his first priority will be helping his family.
The New Jersey father of five came to the USA 26 years ago from the Dominican Republic and worked in a factory until 2006. He works for his son at Apple Deli and Grocery on Eighth Street in Passaic.
His wife, Ines Sanchez, told the Bergen Record that they're in shock.
"I still can't believe it," she said. "We never expected it but thank God." Quezada will get a lump sum payout of $221 million, or about $152 million after taxes. It's the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history. The family's apartment sits in Passaic, part of the working-class suburbs sprawling from New York City. Neighbors stood out in the rain Monday night and spoke with pride that one of their own had struck it rich. Eladia Vazquez described Quezada and his wife as "quiet and not overly talkative" but sensed that they seemed to be working all the time. "This is super for all of us on this block," she said. "They deserve it because they are hardworking people."
Richard Delgado, who lives down the block from Quezada's building, said the man was "a hard worker, like all of us here. We all get up in the morning and go to work." The liquor store in Passaic that sold the ticket will get a $10,000 prize. "Everyone was excited when we found out this morning we sold the ticket," said Eagles Liquors owner Sunil Sethi. Sethi said he would use some of the money to fix up the store and share some with his employees.
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