Los Angeles judge dismisses $2 billion lawsuit against Powerball winner Edwin Castro
Date: 2024-10-03 Author: Leon Pierce Categories: EVENTS
The lawsuit was filed by landscape gardener Jose Rivera in February 2023, who claimed he was the rightful owner of the winnings.
A history of theft and blackmail
Rivera accused his former landlord, Urachi F. “Reggie” Romero, of stealing the winning ticket ahead of the November 2023 drawing and attempting to blackmail him into splitting the prize.
He claimed he did not know how the ticket came to be in the hands of Castro, a man he had never met.
In August, Judge Dona Hollingsworth ruled that lottery players are responsible for keeping their tickets safe from theft or loss.
She also emphasized that the person in possession of a winning lottery ticket is considered its rightful owner.
Case Dismissed
The court did not consider the veracity of Rivera’s allegations. Since the plaintiff did not file a response to the ruling, the case was officially dismissed.
“Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant Edwin Castro and against Plaintiff Jose Rivera. Plaintiff will recover nothing from Defendant Edwin Castro,” the judge’s ruling read.
With the ruling finalized, Castro can continue to enjoy his newfound wealth.
So far, the winner has invested in luxury homes and vintage cars, and has reportedly begun dating Instagram model Payten Vincent, whom he met at an event in Malibu hosted by renowned Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani.
Ex-Con Speculation
In May, Romero told the New York Post that he believed his landlord Rivera did indeed have the winning ticket, though he denied any theft or knowing Castro.
He later suggested that the ticket may have been stolen by an acquaintance, an ex-con named “Midget,” who allegedly had ties to the Castro family.
However, these claims have been denied by Castro himself and his legal team, with the California Lottery confirming that Castro is the rightful winner of the lifetime.
Castro’s attorney, David DePaoli, noted that there is video footage of Castro purchasing the winning ticket. However, the California Lottery has yet to release the video to the public.
In November 2023, Rivera was formally charged by Pasadena police with embezzling police resources, but he continued to claim that “God knows the truth” and expressed faith in his statements.
Inspiring Win
The record-breaking win will certainly remain in the public eye, inspiring many to try their luck at the life-changing prize.
In June, a lucky Grand Rapids woman won $1 million in the Powerball drawing, describing the feeling as “incredible.”
Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot reached a whopping $275 million in Wednesday’s drawing, after no one matched all six numbers on Monday.
The winning numbers for Wednesday’s drawing are 1, 2, 21, 37, and 43, with 21 being the Powerball and 3X being the Power Play.
