Santa Cruz Lottery Winner Is Sacramento Area Retiree

SANTA CRUZ – Albert Graham was relaxing Wednesday night after the Powerball drawing when his tech-savvy wife looked up the results on her iPad.

“My wife Carol said I had five of the numbers and only missed the Powerball number by four digits,” Graham told lottery officials.

He was referring to the fact that he had chosen a Powerball number of 6 instead of the winning number 10.

Graham matched five of six numbers (04-08-19-27-34) in the $1.586 billion jackpot, and is $638,146 richer today.

The 79-year-old came forward late yesterday afternoon to claim his prize at the California Lottery’s District Office in Sacramento.

The ticket was purchased at the Chevron station at 404 Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz. The Grahams are residents of Carmichael, near Sacramento, and they were in Santa Cruz vacationing at their condo, according to officials.

Graham says he, like most Californians, bought tickets after finding out the jackpot had grown so large. “I knew I had to buy tickets.” “I was disappointed in missing only the Powerball number.

But then my wife said ‘How are you disappointed?,’” Graham said jokingly.

The retired concrete worker and manufacturer expects to give the money to his kids and grandkids.

“We also might take a trip to Hawaii.”

Lottery officials say this is the second ticket claimed of the 12 Powerball tickets that matched five of six numbers for the January 13, 2016 drawing.

Below is a list of the 12 locations where tickets that matched five of six numbers were sold. All tickets are worth $638,146.

Claimed tickets are in strikeout.

1. PRIMM VALLEY LOTTO, 15 & STATELINE, NIPTON (San Bernardino County)

2. 7-ELEVEN, 290 I ST, CHULA VISTA (San Diego County)

3. LARKFIELD UNION, 4605 OLD REDWOOD HWY, SANTA ROSA (Sonoma County)

4. CHEVRON #1720, 404 SOQUEL AVE, SANTA CRUZ (Santa Cruz County)

5. JERRY’S LIQUOR, 2923 WILSHIRE BLVD, SANTA MONICA (Los Angeles County)

6. TUSTIN FUEL & MARKET, 16851 MCFADDEN AVE, TUSTIN (Orange County)

7. EDEN ROC LIQUOR, 13404 VAN NUYS BLVD, PACOIMA (Los Angeles County)

8. 7-ELEVEN, 2000 NUT TREE RD, VACAVILLE (Solano County)

9. QUIK STOP #4141, 601 N CLOVERDALE BLVD, CLOVERDALE (Sonoma County)

10. 7-ELEVEN, 1601 W REDLANDS BLVD, REDLANDS (San Bernardino County)

11. TED’S LIQUOR STORE, 18303 S WESTERN AVE, GARDENA (Los Angeles County)

12. SPOT NOT AUTO WASH & GAS, 15612 ARROW HWY, IRWINDALE (Los Angeles County)

-image via California Lottery