Carlos Rivera of Stanhope won $628,820 on Aug. 9
SUSSEX COUNTY -- A Korean War veteran from Stanhope won a $628,820 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot, state lottery officials said.
Carlos Rivera matched all five numbers for the Aug. 9 drawing with a ticket he purchased at the Cranberry Market & Deli on Route 206 in Andover. Officials announced Rivera's big win in a news release on Thursday morning, the day before Veteran's Day.
Rivera told officials he's won smaller prizes a few times in his 40 years of buying lottery tickets. He received a pleasant surprise, though, when he self-scanned the lucky ticket and got the message "file claim."
He then showed the ticket the clerk at the store who began shouting, "He's the winner, he's the winner."
Rivera said wasn't sure what he'd do with the money, except to say he'd try to help family members as much as possible.
This evening's Jersey Cash 5 jackpot is worth $258,000.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.