A Massachusetts man is finally cashing in after his winning $3 million lottery ticket was allegedly stolen by the store clerk who sold it to him.
In January, Paul Little decided to test his luck, purchasing a lottery ticket at a Lakeville liquor store. However, despite buying the ticket, he accidentally left it behind after leaving the store, and the clerk who sold it to him, 23-year-old Carly Nunes, is being accused of taking it and trying to claim the prize for herself.
After months of fighting to get the ticket and the winnings, Little has finally cashed out, receiving his comically large check from the Lottery headquarters in Dorchester last week.
“A lot of things had to happen for me to be standing here today,” Little told reporters in Dorchester, WCVB reported.
But while some might hold grudges against anyone who would try to steal $3 million from them, Little says he is wishing the best for Nunes.
“I’m gonna wish her the best. I know, she’s put herself in a difficult spot. But hopefully, she’ll work her way to a better life,” Little said, MassLive reported.
Nunes is now facing charges for her alleged role in the incident.
Little shared that on Jan. 17, he purchased two State Lottery Quick Picks for the Mega Millions Lottery and two for the Mass Cash lottery at the Lakeville liquor store. Sometime after leaving the store, the diesel engine mechanic went to look at his ticket but couldn’t find it, leading him to believe he lost it.
Prosecutors pursuing charges against Nunes say that 45 minutes after Little left the store, another customer noticed he left without his ticket and gave it to the clerk, who allegedly pocketed it, the New York Post reported.
Later that evening, the numbers on Little’s ticket were called, making it the key to a $3 million prize.
Prosecutors say that when Nunes found out the ticket contained the winning numbers, she allegedly hatched a plot to take the prize for herself.
Nunes and one of her coworkers then drove to the lottery headquarters to try and claim the prize, but they became suspicious, noticing the ticket had been burned and torn. While the clerk claimed it happened because she accidentally put it on her pipe, officials were not so easily convinced.
Eventually, prosecutors say that Nunes admitted she did not buy the ticket, and surveillance video helped them determine that it was Little’s.
“It really gave me a greater appreciation for what the Mass Lottery does as far as making sure the rightful people get the award,” Little said, according to WBZ News. “I can’t say enough for all the people who helped me get to this point.”
As for what the new millionaire plans to do with his winnings, Little shared that he plans on paying off his mortgage, doing some renovations, and giving back to the community.
“I know the church I go to, they’re in need of a heating system. So we’ll be working to contribute to that,” Little said.
Nunes is facing charges of including larceny from a building, presentation of a false claim, and witness intimidation, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.
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