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CNN Live Today
Winner of Disputed New Jersey Lottery to Be Decided
Aired April 30, 2002 - 10:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we move on to the big mystery of the day. About an hour from now, we are going to find out who the real winner was in New Jersey of the $59 million in the Big Game lottery. Of course, this sparked a big dispute by a pool of players who thought they had won, but that one isn't turning out be true. No one in their pool had the winning ticket after all. But the big question: Is who did?
Our Maria Hinojosa is in Trenton, New Jersey. She is awaiting the word of the actual winner. Maria, any clues as to who it might be?
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We don't know yet. But I am sure a lot of people would like to know how come this person hasn't come forward, because really what's happened, Daryn, is that this story has kind of evolved into not so much the money, but more the drama of greed and distrust and friendship, and what happens when you buy a lottery pool and suddenly your friends are calling lawyers, and what happened to loyalty.
Because of course, what happened with this story is that we almost had like a private window into this family drama among these coworkers. These were all night shift workers who thought they might become millionaires.
When the lotto is picked last week, they think that their coworker has bought the winning ticket. He doesn't show up to work. He calls in sick, and they are immediately calling lawyers and saying, hey, we want our share. But finally, finally yesterday, Angelito Marquez -- and Angelito by the way in Spanish means little angel. Angelito Marquez who everybody thought had bought the winning lotto ticket, everybody thought he as scheming. He finally came forward to say he had not bought the winning lottery ticket. This is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELITO MARQUEZ, LOTTERY PLAYER: I feel so relieved about it that it is already over. And for all of those who didn't believe in me, I already forgive them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have forgiven them?
MARQUEZ: Yes, and for all those who supported me, from the bottom of my heart, thanks to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HINOJOSA: Now, Daryn, this is out of a total of $331 million, it's so big I can't even say it, $331 million, the share today that we will finally find out who won is $58.9 million. But, Daryn, get this: The lotto workers who actually bought this -- bought these tickets in the pool, they did win something, $2.
KAGAN: $2.
HINOJOSA: $2.
KAGAN: And how many people were in that pool?
HINOJOSA: Over a dozen.
KAGAN: Over a dozen.
HINOJOSA: But you know what? Everybody is saying that they are losers, because they all turned their friend...
KAGAN: I know.
HINOJOSA: ... their coworker, who has now to go back it work. And how are they going to face each other? We are expecting to find out who the winner is in about an hour. We don't know if that person is going to be here, but we will finally know -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Yes, exactly how is this all going to unfold?
HINOJOSA: Well, the lottery officials are going to have a press conference, which as you can tell is being covered by everybody who wants to know who this person is. And they will tell us. We don't know yet whether they are actually going to present this person. But of course, everybody wants to know. You saw this whole drama unfold.
KAGAN: I know.
HINOJOSA: Why can't you raise your hand and say, I won.
KAGAN: If nothing else, to save the other people from the grief.
HINOJOSA: We'll find out.
KAGAN: And as far as Angelito, he didn't win the lottery, but maybe he can sell his story. It would make a good movie, I think. He's got people who believed in him.
HINOJOSA: Oh, Daryn, thinking forward, aren't you...
KAGAN: Yes. Got to...
HINOJOSA: ... you producer you.
KAGAN: Yes. I might win the lottery myself. I've got to think of those ideas. Maria, we are going to check back with you, and of course, we are going to see the announcement of the lottery winner in about 45 minutes live right here on CNN. So, Maria, thank you so much for that.
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