Sonoma County Man Wins $750,000 In California Lottery

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A Sonoma County man won $750,000 after buying a lottery ticket at a liquor store in Santa Rosa, California Lottery officials announced March 7.

“When I scratched the ticket, I freaked out, in fact, I almost fainted,” Joseph Elahmad was quoted by the state lottery as saying after winning $750,000 on the California Lottery’s $30 California Gold Scratchers.

Elahmad said admitted he only plays the lottery on rare occasions, but this isn’t the first time he has won: about a year ago he won $1,000, which is not bad considering he’s been playing since he turned 18, which is the legal age to buy and play the Lottery.

Elahmad’s dad actually bought him the ticket back then. But this time, he purchased the lucky ticket himself at MD Liquor & Food, located at 500 Mission Blvd. in Santa Rosa.

When asked by the Lottery what he planned on doing with the money, Elahmad answered, “I think I’ll use some for college and invest the rest – but I haven’t made any definite plans yet.”

Image via Calif. Lottery