Annapolis Man Hits Lottery Prize Twice In Year

ANNAPOLIS, MD — They say lightning doesn’t strike twice but Lottery luck is a different story, especially if your name is Ilyas Terzi. The 50-year-old granite fabricator from Annapolis just topped his 2017 scratch-off win of $50,000 by claiming a $250,000 top prize on the Quarter Million Large scratch-off, according to a news release.

And, both winning scratch-offs came from the same Lottery retailer, Suitland Road Exxon in Morningside.

“I was shocked the first time I won but this goes beyond words,” Ilyas told Maryland Lottery officials. “I guess now I should be setting my sights on bigger jackpots by playing Powerball or Mega Millions.”

Just last year, the Lottery player and his good luck charm, Rogelio Sanchez Gomez, won a $50,000 prize playing a 50X the Cash scratch-off. Ilyas is still giving his friend money to buy scratch-offs from Suitland Road Exxon and still winning.

“He tells me all the time that I’m a good luck charm to him,” said Rogelio, who works at AU Granite & Marble LLC, which Ilyas owns. “He gives me a few bucks to go pick out a few scratch-offs and luckily I’ve been picking out the right ones. I feel like it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. I’m happy for his win.”

The Anne Arundel County winner emigrated from Turkey, deciding to stay in Maryland when his cargo ship arrived at the Port of Baltimore nearly 30 years ago. After settling in, he launched his Annapolis business. Ilyas plans to buy a house with his prize and share some of his windfall with his good friend.

Suitland Road Exxon located at 6500 Suitland Road in Morningside earns a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a top-prize scratch-off in the game.

PHOTO: Lottery luck strikes twice for Ilyas Terzi of Annapolis (patriotic hat) and his friend Rogelio Sanchez Gomez. Ilyas holds a photo of the picture taken during his first big win.