Illegal Alien Says Uncle Stole $2M Lottery Jackpot Win
A California woman who entered the U.S. illegally says her uncle kept $2 million in lottery winnings she asked him to claim, unaware that undocumented individuals can legally collect prizes.
Ruby Reyes has gone public with her account of the dispute, telling N+Univision 14 that she bought a $20 scratch-off ticket at a liquor store in Santa Rosa in late 2024 and discovered she had won the jackpot, according to Adry Torres writing in New York Post.
Reyes said she handed the winning ticket to her uncle, whose identity she has not disclosed publicly, under the assumption he possessed legal resident documentation and would collect the money before returning it to her. She began making plans for how the windfall would improve her children’s lives, but her reluctance to appear before California State Lottery officials to claim the prize proved costly.
The uncle proceeded to cash the ticket and received a check for $1,520,004.08 after state taxes were deducted, based on records reviewed by the news outlet. Reyes now says he has kept the money for himself.
I handed it over to an uncle because, supposedly, he had the paperwork, Reyes explained.
She has since reached out to her uncle requesting that he reconsider and return what she maintains is rightfully her money. Reyes has also initiated legal action, though specific details of the filing were not disclosed.
The case highlights a common misconception among illegal immigrants. Contrary to Reyes’ apparent belief, undocumented individuals are not prohibited from claiming lottery winnings in California or elsewhere in the United States. They are, however, required to pay applicable federal and state taxes on their prizes.
Previous Case Ended in Threats and Deportation Order
A similar situation unfolded in Georgia in 2011 when Jose Antonio Cua-Toc won $750,000 from a scratch-off ticket but asked his employer, Erick Cervantes, to cash it for him. When Cervantes allegedly failed to hand over the winnings, Cua-Toc was arrested for threatening to kill Cervantes and his family.
An immigration judge ordered Cua-Toc to self-deport, though a Georgia court did grant him the jackpot prize before his departure.
Reyes insists she has sufficient evidence to prevail in her case. New York Post has reached out to both Reyes and the California State Lottery for further comment.
With information from New York Post
