DORCHESTER, Mass. — A Massachusetts man who accidentally left his winning $3 million Mega Millions ticket at a checkout counter back in January finally got his big check Friday.
A lengthy investigation by Lottery officials and Massachusetts State Police led them to the rightful owner.
“Definitely a good feeling,” said Paul Little, as he held his giant check for $3 million at Lottery headquarters in Dorchester.
Little might not show it from the outside, but this diesel mechanic from Lakeville was excited and also taking a sigh of relief after he finally claimed the massive prize he had won on a Mega Millions Quick Pick ticket he somehow left behind.
“I had a lot of things on my mind and I picked up the change, thought the tickets were in there and walked out, and the next morning I thought, well I must have lost them,” Little explained.
But according to investigators, the tickets sat in the lottery terminal tray until about 45 minutes later when another customer bought tickets.
The store clerk, 23-year-old Carly Nunes, handed all the tickets from the tray to the customer and she walked out. That customer came back in and handed Little’s two tickets to Nunes, who investigators say held on to them and tried to cash them at Lottery headquarters. But immediately, Lottery employees suspected something wasn’t right.
“The ticket was burned, you could not read the winning numbers and the ticket was torn and prior to that claim being submitted with the ticket, there was an argument that was occurring outside in this lobby,” said Dan O’Neil, the Director of Security and Compliance.
That’s when Lottery officials began their investigation. They released a surveillance photo---hoping it could help lead them to the rightful owner.
“What happened is I went back into the same store and the manager/owner of the store actually had approached me and said do you think this is you in this picture and that’s when I said yea, that’s me,” Little said.
The investigation resulted in Nunes and her coworker being indicted on several charges.
“I’m going to wish her the best I know she put herself in a difficult spot,” Little said of Nunes.
Little says he now has a greater appreciation for the lengths the Lottery goes to make sure the right people get their reward. And from the store owner to the woman who brought his tickets back into the store, he considers himself extra lucky to be holding the check.
“And that’s the amazing part of it a lot of things had to happen for me to be standing here today,” Little said.
What is Little going to do with all of his money? First, he says he’s going to let the dust settle but then he says he’s probably going to pay off his mortgage and then give some money back to his church.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2023 Cox Media Group
