Powerball winner Edwin Castro holds mystery letter on way to meeting after being accused of stealing $2b lottery win | The Sun
A POWERBALL winner embroiled in legal woes over his lucky ticket has been spotted with a handful of mystery documents.
Edwin Castro was pictured looking downtrodden while walking the streets of Los Angeles as he stands accused of stealing a winning ticket to collect a life-changing $2billion fortune.
On Thursday, the world's richest lottery winner was spotted walking into an office building with an envelope of legal documents, photos exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun reveal.
He wore grey sweatpants, a Hawaiian shirt, and a gloomy expression that starkly contrasts his normal excited grin.
The new multi-millionaire held up the large envelope to shield his face from photos, but it remains a mystery what exactly was inside.
The latest sighting of the lucky Powerball winner comes as a lawsuit filed in Alhambra Superior Court in February by plaintiff Jose Rivera takes steam.
Rivera is suing Castro, his former landlord Urachi F. Romero who is known as Reggie, and the California Lottery Commission, among others.
He alleged that he was the one to buy the ticket from Joe's Service Center in Altadena and subsequently lost it.
Rivera claimed that Romero stole the ticket and refused to return it, saying he had lost it.
Romero told Rivera that if he did eventually find it, the two of them could split the winnings, according to court docs.
Most read in The US Sun
Director James Cameron slams search for sub as 'nightmarish charade'
Son who died on sub was 'terrified about trip but went to please dad'
5 unanswered questions on Titan sub tragedy amid fears bodies may never be found
Mason Greenwood looks worlds away from Prem as he trains alone
However, Romero denied those claims in an interview with the New York Post in late May.
Romero admitted that he did see Rivera with the lottery ticket and believes he is the one who bought it, adding that he has no idea what happened to it or why he's being sued.
The California Lottery maintains its confidence in giving Castro the money and said that there's a lengthy process winners have to go through before getting the pot.
A representative for the agency previously said: "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 $2.04billion prize stemming from the Powerball drawing in November of 2022."
Officers at Pasadena Police Department confirmed earlier this month that the case is now an active investigation but the report is yet to be made publicly available.
However, the alleged incident is only being investigated as petty theft.
City of Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian told The U.S. Sun: "The Pasadena Police Department, in coordination with Lottery Investigators, are actively looking into these claims.
"As far as Pasadena Police, it is classified as petty theft because the lottery ticket cost ticket $10."
California law defines petty theft as the theft of any property with a value of $950 or less.
Most cases are charged as misdemeanors, which carry a sentence of up to six months in county jail, a fine of no more than $1,000, or both. It is often a small fine.
Rivera's case centers around CCTV footage that he is trying to obtain which he hopes will prove that he was the one to purchase the ticket.
However, PIO Derderian said that the case was previously thrown out after they "reviewed video and conducted interviews" and could not substantiate any claims.
It's unclear if they reviewed the footage that Rivera's lawyer has been attempting to get.
Read More On The Sun
Strictly legend announces he’s QUIT all work to focus on ‘being a dad’
Gemma Collins shows off slim waist in skintight leggings & snubs weight loss surgery
A case management conference and proof of service hearing have now been set for July 24 at the courthouse in Alhambra, CA.
Rivera is being represented by attorneys Estela Richeda and Brian Kramer.
Source: Read Full Article