World’s richest lottery winner Edwin Castro breaks silence after lawsuit claims $2b-winning Powerball ticket was stolen
POWERBALL winner Edwin Castro has launched a movement to dismiss a lawsuit claiming his $2billion golden ticket was stolen from its rightful proprietor, The U.S. Sun has discovered.
In the submitting, Castro’s lawyer, David De Paoli, argued that plaintiff Jose Rivera blatantly lied about serving the minted billionaire and as an alternative served the fallacious Edwin Castro.
The U.S. Sun beforehand reported that Rivera filed a swimsuit in Alhambra Superior Court in February, claiming he bought the big-money ticket at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena the day the November 8, 2022, drawing was revealed – which noticed the winner decide up a staggering $997.6million after taxes.
Rivera alleged the ticket was stolen by a person known as Reggie on the identical day, who has since been recognized as Urachi F. Romero and is listed as a co-defendant in courtroom paperwork.
The plaintiff claimed he demanded Romero return the ticket, however he refused, telling him he had misplaced it, but when he did ultimately discover it, they might cut up the winnings.
Rivera claimed he refused to be blackmailed and reported the alleged theft to the California Lottery Commission and to regulation enforcement.
A proof of service was filed on May 17 exhibiting courtroom papers have been allegedly delivered to Castro at his new $25million residence within the Hollywood Hills and acquired by an unidentified male.
A replica of the summons, criticism, and different paperwork associated to the case was handed to a Hispanic man in his 50s at Castro’s publicized deal with above Sunset Strip on April 25, the submitting said.
However, Castro’s authorized group debunked the plaintiff’s claims, saying the papers have been delivered to their consumer’s childhood residence in Altadena, not his residence in Hollywood Hills.
“The Edwin Castro served was not the winner of the Powerball jackpot referenced in the complaint,” Paoli argued.
Paoli asserted that Rivera’s swimsuit was served to Castro’s father, Edwin H. Castro.
The movement additionally argued that Rivera did not hyperlink Castro and the co-defendant: “There are no facts as to how Edwin Castro came into possession of the winning Powerball ticket from ‘Reggie.’”
A case administration convention and proof of service listening to have now been set for July 24 on the courthouse in Alhambra, California, with Rivera being represented by attorneys Estela Richeda and Brian Kramer.
When approached by The U.S. Sun, Castro refused to touch upon the lawsuit or his historic win.
There can be no lawyer listed for the California Lottery Commission or Romero, with The U.S. Sun making makes an attempt to achieve the defendants.
When contacted by The U.S. Sun on Friday concerning the mix-up, Carolyn Becker from the California Lottery Commission said: “It’s not our follow to touch upon pending litigation.
“I’ll reiterate our earlier assertion that relating to the vetting course of for large winners, California Lottery has the utmost confidence in its course of for doing so.
“California Lottery remains confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion prize stemming from the Powerball drawing in November of 2022.”
Joe Chahayed, the proprietor of Joe’s Service Center, spoke solely to The U.S. Sun after additionally incomes himself $1million earlier than taxes for promoting the successful ticket.
The humble businessman, who selected to return to work the subsequent day at 6am and gave his winnings to his household, maintained that Castro did purchase the ticket and was a daily in his retailer.
He stated: “I knew the man earlier than he gained, he got here each morning to purchase espresso, donuts, and tickets … then he disappeared.
“I thought he was mad at me or something had happened, but then someone told me he won the money.”
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