North Babylon Man Wins $1 Million Powerball

It was an ordinary day for Joseph Pegno of North Babylon who had been making a routine stop for a bottle of water and his daily Lottery tickets.

He decided to buy a few extra Powerball tickets that day from ARJ OK Gas on Deer Park Avenue in North Babylon, and he made the right decision. Pegno, 58, matched the first five numbers from the July 18 drawing earning him a $1 million pay day.

"I don't know why but something told me to spend an extra couple of bucks for Powerball that day," Pegno said in a statement. "I scanned my tickets at the store the next day, and the machine went berserk."

The $1 million Powerball prize is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment. Pegno will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.

The winning numbers from the July 18 Powerball drawing were 2-5-20-23-57, Powerball 3.

The New York Lottery also contributed $198,702,595.17 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Suffolk County during fiscal year 2011-2012.