'The Lucky 3' Friends Split $3 Million VA Lottery Prize Bought At Sterling Giant

STERLING, VA — A trio of friends are likely much closer now, as they decided to split a $3 million prize from the Virginia Lottery.

The group, who lottery officials called "The Lucky Three," includes Walter Mendez of Springfield, Delores Vigil of Herndon, and Juan Carlos Fuentes of Herndon.

The Lucky Three earned their prize in the Virginia Lottery's 50X The Money Scratcher. They purchased their winning ticket from the Giant Food in Sterling's Towncenter Plaza.

"We went to buy groceries," Mendez told lottery officials as he claimed his prize. "We always stop and play."

Mendez had the lucky touch on the scratcher. As he revealed the ticket, he let his friends know the situation.

"I think we’ve got something," Mendez told his friends.

They earned the $3 million top prize from the scratcher. The Lucky Three unveiled the second top prize in the game. Two more top prizes from the 50X The Money remain unclaimed.

The prizes range from $20 to $3 million. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,836,000. The odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 3.

The friends opted to take their prize in a one-time cash payment of $1,875,000 before taxes. They could have opted for a total of $3 million over 30 years.

The Sterling Giant location will receive a $10,000 bonus from the Virginia Lottery for selling the winning ticket.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, the Virginia Council on Problem Gaming provides resources to help. Their hotline can be reached at 1-888-532-3500.