$339m winner pays $30,000 child support

Pedro Quezada the New Jersey man who just won a $338 million Powerball jackpot, listens to an interpreter during his appearance in state Superior Court. Source: DT Sport Alpha Magazine

THE man who won last week's $US338 million Powerball jackpot paid $30,000 in unpaid child support in advance of a court appearance to satisfy an outstanding warrant.

Wearing a zip-down gray sweater, Pedro Quezada entered a Passaic County courtroom that was buzzing with reporters and television cameras.

Quezada was flanked by eight men. Who they were could not be immediately confirmed. Quezada spoke through a Spanish-language interpreter during the brief hearing.

A Passaic County Superior Court judge had put a stay on a child support warrant for Quezada, 44, and ordered him to appear in court at 1:30pm Monday US time, said William Maer, spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriff's Department.

Quezada is the father of five and owed approximately $29,000 in child support, according to authorities. However, the child support payments were only for three of those children.

"You're a special person now because of the good fortune you've had. But invest in your children. That's the best investment you can make," said Passaic County state Superior Court Judge Ernest M. Caposela, who heads the Family Division.

Quezada nodded as the judge spoke.

Caposela noted that the sole purpose of Monday's proceeding was to review Quezada's past debt and bring it up to date.

Pedro Quezada the New Jersey man who just won a $338 million Powerball jackpot, listens to an interpreter during his appearance in state Superior Court.

Any modification to the current $141-a-week payment schedule must be requested through a separate legal motion, filed by either the children's mother or Quezada himself.

"The only purpose of this proceeding today was to collect the arrearage," the judge added. "I commend you for doing that today - for paying in full."

Quezada told the judge that the children at issue would be coming to live with him. The judge said if that is true, he needs his attorney to file a modification motion to address future support payments.

The children's mother was not present at Monday's hearing.

Outside the courthouse, Quezada's attorney, Paul Fernandez, told reporters gathered that the due child support was "behind him now."

"He's paid and overpaid the amount that was due," he said. "He is thankful this is over with. His children are with him. He's a family man and this is all concluded."

Fernandez said reports that Quezada will pay neighbors' rent on the street he and family members have run a bodega for years on Eighth Street are rumors. His client will not be paying rent for them.

He said his client plans to continue to take care of his children and protect them from unnecessary attention.

"He plans to do what is conservative and right for his family," Fernandez said. "His kids come first."

"We understand anxiety he's been through," he added. "He just wants to shelter his children from any needless attention."

Quezada, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic 26 years ago, has said his children range in age from 5 to 23 years in age, and that some live in North Carolina.

Quezada officially claimed his winnings in Trenton, N.J., last week, a day after verifying the winning ticket at Eagle Liquors the Passaic Street store where he had purchased the lotto ticket.

Judith Druker, spokesperson for the New Jersey Lottery, said last week that it takes between two and three weeks for the winner to receive their winnings. She said during that time a check is done for any unpaid taxes, liens, and child support owed. She said money owed is deducted from the prize given to the winner.

Quezada chose a lump sum payment, which would amount to $152 million a

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I want to have fun - $322m winner

Pedro Quezada, the winner of the Powerball jackpot, talks to the media during a news conference at the New Jersey Lottery headquarter. Quezada , 44, won the $338 million jackpot with the winning ticket he purchased at Eagle Liquors store in Passaic, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Source: AP

A DAY after winning a $US338 million Powerball jackpot, Pedro Quezada said he does not know what he's going to do with the money.

"I have to think about it. My mind is not clear yet,'' Quezada said through a translator at New Jersey Lottery headquarters. But he said he will help his family and have some fun.

"I'm just going to have a little spin around."

The 44-year-old, who has put in long hours at the family's bodega in Passaic, N.J., said he has also not decided whether to stay in New Jersey or move to his native the Dominican Republic, which he left at age 19.

But Quezada said he has already decided to buy a new car.

Pedro Quezada with his $US338 million cheque after winning the Popwerball lottery jackpot. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

What kind does he drive now?

"My feet,'' he said.

Flanked by his wife, children and other family members, Quezada declined to answer reporters' questions about the difficulties he has faced as an immigrant and small business owner.

"I don't want to speak about it because my life has changed,'' he said when asked about a 2009 fire in his bodega.

He declined to say how much he made each year at his store.

"These millions of dollars have erased whatever I made before,'' he said.

The jackpot was the fourth largest prize in Powerball history.

Quezada said he played the lottery two or three times a week at Eagle Liquor, on Passaic Street, because it was located between his home and his store.

When he walked into Eagle Liquor with his Powerball ticket Monday, he did not know he had won the jackpot, he said at Tuesday's press conference.

"I had no idea I was a winner,'' he said. "When I saw the commotion outside, I thought maybe this was the store that sold the winning ticket.''

Quezada answered reporters' questions in Spanish. His responses were translated by Jennifer Rodriguez, a security guard for the lottery.

He said he already has a financial plan worked out, but he does not know whether he will take the prize as a lump-sum or an annuity paid out over time. The lottery doesn't provide financial planning or other services.

If the he chooses the lump sum, it will be worth $US211 million - about $US152 million after state and federal taxes, lottery executive director Carole Hedinger said at a press conference Monday.

Read the full story at www.NorthJersey.com
 

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Lotto winner just became own boss

A single ticket sold in New Jersey matched all six numbers in the drawing of a $324 million Powerball jackpot. Picture: AP Source: AP

BRUCE Springsteen may sing about the poor lot of some people in his native New Jersey but someone there just became $324 million richer.

While the Boss tours Australia (he played another three-hour set last night), it was announced that the sole winning ticket in a massive Powerball jackpot was sold in New Jersey. But others in the Garden State are not so lucky – scientists want their toe nail clippings to determine if they have been exposed to toxic hexavalent chromium.

Bruce Springsteen performs in a concert at Rod Laver Arena on March 24, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: Herald Sun

In other news, an alleged cannibal known as "Black Jesus" has escaped a PNG prison, the Pope appeared at St Peter's Square for Palm Sunday, Pervez Musharraf is back in Pakistan and faces threats of death and imprisonment, Syria's opposition leader has quit, a skydiving instructor and a student have died in a jump in the US and rescuers are rushing to save pilot whales stranded on a Cape Town beach.

A rescue volunteer pours water over a whale as a woman, left, covers its blow hole at Noordhoek beach near the city of Cape Town, South Africa. Picture: Schalk van Zuydam Source: AP

Also, a teenager cut up his mum because he was more interested in dissection than her life, a woman who jumped from an Indian hotel fearing rape says she called for help for more than an hour, tens of thousands of people have protested against gay marriage in Paris, police found no traces of radiation at the UK home of dead Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, Cyprus is making a late bid to avoid bankruptcy, a newspaper regrets comparing Angela Merkel to Hitler, a seal pup has shown up in a forest 6km inland, and a wrongly convicted man who was freed after 23 years in jail suffered a heart attack on his second day of freedom.

Tens of thousands of people demonstrate in Paris against France's gay marriage law in an attempt to block legislation that will allow homosexual couples to marry and adopt children . Picture: AFP Source: AFP

While Springsteen's Rod Laver Arena show was very energetic, actress Tilda Swinton has been sleeping in a glass box at a museum for her latest performance. Meanwhile, Kristen Stewart embraced the slime-throwing at the Kids Choice Awards, a Kate Middleton impersonator has bought herself a fake baby bump, Minnie Mouse has a new Lanvin look and NCIS star Pauley Perrette has been accused of bizarre behaviour by her ex.

Kristen Stewart accepts the award for favourite movie actress and some slime from Sandra Bullock and Neil Patrick Harris. Picture: John Shearer Source: AP

In sport, Mark Webber is furious at his teammate Sebastian Vettel for ignoring team orders to effectively steal a win from him, the Australian cricket team made history (and not in a good way), Ferrari also had a bad day, Fiji defended their Hong Kong Sevens crown, Italian bad boy Mario Balotelli believes more people like him now, England captain Steven Gerrard says fans are entitled to boo Rio Ferdinand, South Africa won their one-day series against Pakistan and Spain says their era of soccer dominance is far from over.

Mark Webber was not pleased to be in second place on the podium behind his teammate Sebastian Vettel. Picture: Clive Mason Source: Getty Images

 

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