Cape Man Claims $500K Lottery Prize A Day Before Ticket Expires

DENNIS, MA — A Cape Cod man won the $500,000 Powerball prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery, claiming, it just in time — one day before the ticket expired.

Leonard Thomas, of South Dennis, claimed his prize Wednesday, after winning in the Aug. 19, 2020 drawing. He purchased the winning ticket at South Dennis Mobil, on Route 134 in South Dennis. The store received a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

"I heard about a Powerball ticket expiring on the radio and then my nephew told me," Thomas said. "I play at that store and have a plastic sleeve that I keep my tickets in. When I heard about the expiring ticket, I looked through the tickets in the sleeve and found a Powerball ticket from Aug. 19, 2020. "I had it scanned at a convenience store, and the clerk indicated that I had to go to the Lottery to claim the prize."

Thomas claimed his prize at the Mass Lottery headquarters in Dorchester, accompanied by his dog Mariah. He said he will use the winnings to buy a small house or year-round cottage.

"What a great reminder to our lottery customers! Always be sure to check your tickets and keep them in a safe place," State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said in a statement. "We are thrilled that Leonard, and his dog Mariah, saw the announcement about the expiring ticket and were able to cash it in!"

The winning numbers for this drawing were 13-23-47-55-58, with a Powerball of 23. Thomas' Quic Pic ticket matched four of the first five numbers, plus the Powerball. Since this ticket included the Power Play option and the Power Play multiplier for this drawing was 10 times the value, the base prize of $50,000 became $500,000, before taxes.

Powerball and other draw game prize winners have one year from the date of the drawing to claim prizes. Lottery prizes that expire become part of the net profit that the Lottery returns to the Commonwealth for distribution to all 351 cities and towns