2 Long Islanders Win Top Lottery Prizes

Two Long Island residents were among the winners of recent New York Lottery jackpots.

East Islip resident James Fannon, 31, recently won the $1,000 a Week for Life prize thanks to his parents.

He received the jackpot winning scratch-off ticket in a Valentine’s Day card from his parents, who purchased the ticket at Pequa Spirits on 5151 Merrick Road in Massapequa Park.

“It’s something my parents like to do instead of giving me candy,” Fannon said. “I scratched the first one and it was a loser. I scratched the second one and I thought I was reading it wrong.”

He then had his parents double-check the ticket.

“Once I realized it was for real," Fannon said, "I was a bit surprised.”

Fannon chose to receive his prize in annual installments of $52,000. He will receive a check totaling $34,934 every year for the rest of his life.

When asked how it feels to win the lottery, Fannon said, “It’s a breath of fresh air. The first thing I’ll do is buy a new car.”

In addition, a Brookhaven construction worker, Peter Hess, 60, won a $9.2 million jackpot in January.

Hess, who has played Lotto on and off for years, chose to buy a ticket for the Jan. 6 drawing at King Kullen 552 Main Street in Center Moriches.

He was the only New Yorker to match all six numbers drawn for the jackpot win.

“The numbers were random. There was no special way of picking them,” Hess said of his strategy for choosing his winning numbers.

He checked his numbers a few days later, and when he realized he won, he went straight home and called his sister, Carol Murphy, in California, with whom he split his prize. Both will receive a net check totaling $2,113,982 after required withholding.

“I have no immediate plans for the money," Hess said. "I will use some of it to take care of family."

The winning numbers for the January 6 LOTTO drawing were 1-2-4-40-55-59 Bonus number 27.