Chinese Take-Out Leads To $500K Lottery Win In Huntersville: NCEL

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — A Florida man relocating to North Carolina said he is one step closer to buying a home in Huntersville thanks to a lucky fortune cookie.

Ernesto Sorzano, who recently bought a winning Powerball ticket at the 7-Eleven on Sam Furr Road in Huntersville, said the numbers that earned him a $500,000 lottery win came from the cellophane wrapped cookie tucked in with an order of Chinese take-out fried rice and shrimp.

"That was a good investment," Sorzano told North Carolina Education Lottery officials in Raleigh.

Sorzano won the Feb. 20 Powerball drawing by matching four of the white balls and the Powerball. "Because he bought a $3 Power Play ticket, his prize jumped ten times to $500,000 when the 10X multiplier was drawn," NCEL said.

After claiming the prize in Raleigh Monday and paying state and federal taxes, Sorzano took home $353,751, NCEL said. He told lottery officials he intends to put the money towards buying a home in Huntersville.

"Unbelievable," he said. "I'm just super happy that my dreams came true."

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