A dollar and a nightmare.
An undocumented California woman claims her uncle pocketed a $2 million scratch-off lottery jackpot after she asked him to cash the winning ticket because she feared claiming it herself could lead to deportation.
Ruby Reyes told N+Univision 14 she purchased the $20 ticket at local Santa Rosa liquor store in late 2024, and scratched off the 12 words that were listed on the card before she noticed that she had won the jackpot prize.
Reyes said she turned the ticket over to her uncle, believing he would cash it and return the money. She did not reveal his name.
Reyes immediately started making plans to better the lives of her children but was hesitant about appearing before the California State Lottery to claim the prize.
“I handed it over to an uncle because, supposedly, he had the (legal resident) paperwork and was going to give me the money,” Reyes said.
Her uncle received a check for $1,520,004.08 after state taxes were deducted, according to records that were reviewed by the outlet.
Reyes has messaged her uncle in hopes that he “reconsiders” returning the money she claims is hers. The outlet noted she has filed “legal action” but did not offer anymore details.
“It was a dream I had,” she said. “I only thought about my future and that of my children. I am telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, and I have sufficient evidence to win this case.”
Despite Reyes’ fears, undocumented immigrants are not barred from claiming winning lottery tickets, but are subjected to paying federal and state taxes.
In 2011, Jose Antonio Cua-Toc won $750,000 from a scratch-off ticket in Georgia, but asked his boss, Erick Cervantes, to cash it on his behalf. Cua-Toc was arrested for threatening to kill Cervantes, his wife and children after failing to receive the winnings.
An immigration judge instructed Cua-Toc to self-deport, but not before a Georgia judge granted him the jackpot prize.
The Post reached out to Reyes and the California State Lottery for comment.
