The winner of the $2 billion California Powerball prize has been served with legal papers claiming that the ticket was stolen, according to reports.
Edwin Castro was the lucky winner who came forward to claim the life-changing prize last year, however, is now the subject of a lawsuit claiming he was not the lawful buyer of the winning ticket.
Castro has been enjoying a luxurious lifestyle since picking up the winnings, which amounted to $997.6 million after taxes, including buying a $25.5 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills with seven bedrooms, an infinity pool, and a spa, as well as expensive cars and three security guards who watch him round the clock.
It was at his lavish home that process servers delivered the papers to Castro, with them initially being greeted by a man in his fifties on April 25 who told them that they were "serving the wrong Edwin Castro". Proof of service was eventually filed on May 17, with reports stating that a man at the home eventually took the papers, thus officially giving notice.
According to reports from the US Sun, plaintiff Jose Rivera claims he was the one that actually bought and paid for the winning ticket at Joe's Service Center in Altadena a day before the draw on November 8.
Rivera alleged that his ticket was stolen on the same day by a man called "Reggie", since identified as Urachi F. Romero, who is listed as a co-defendant in court papers viewed by the publication.
He claims Romero refused to return the ticket despite him demanding that he does so, instead telling him that he'd lost it but would split the winnings with him if he did eventually find it.
Rivera says he refused the offer and reported the alleged theft to law enforcement and the California Lottery Commission at the time.
The complaint does not address how Castro came to be in possession of the lottery ticket from Romero or the circumstances of how it was allegedly stolen from Rivera in the first place.
The lawsuit was initially filed in February and the plaintiff believes that the surveillance footage from Joe's Service Center will be the key piece of evidence to prove he was indeed the one that bought the ticket.
A letter submitted to the California Lottery by Rivera’s legal team says, as reported by the outlet: "In an effort to hopefully reach a prompt resolution of this matter involving the rightful owner of the $2.04 Billion Powerball winning ticket, our client, Jose Rivera, again requests the ‘Lottery’ make available for our review all video depicting the purchase of the winning ticket.
"We understand the ‘Lottery’ took possession of the video shortly after it was determined the winning ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Station in Altadena, California."
However, Carolyn Becker, a representative for the California Lottery, previously stated: "When it comes to the vetting process for big winners, California Lottery has the utmost confidence in its process 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."
Despite the claim from the California Lottery, the lawsuit is still going ahead and a case management conference and proof of service hearing have now been set for July 24 in Alhambra, California.
