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Former Flushing chef wins $10M lottery

By Madina Toure

A retired Flushing chef who recently won $10 million in the New York Lottery is planning to buying a new house.

Chang Tong Chen claimed the top prize of $10 million on the $10,000 A Week For Life scratch-off ticket, according to the New York State Gaming Commission. He was buying groceries to make Sunday dinner and stopped at Primacare Plus Pharmacy to buy his lottery tickets.

He bought the first $10,000 A Week For Life ticket because the ticket number was “8,” which he considers to be a lucky number. He ended up buying the next ticket, “7,” because that was his son’s lucky number.

He scratched the ticket right away and thought he had won a big amount but was not certain. Because the ticket checker was not working, he gave the ticket to the clerk who printed out a jackpot winner receipt for him.

When he arrived home, he showed his ticket to his wife who did not believe that he won the jackpot. His son confirmed that he had won the jackpot prize by matching the number “49.”

He chose to receive his $10 million prize as a one-time lump sum payment, netting him $5,105,232 after required tax withholdings.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,265,576,988.95 to school districts throughout New York City during fiscal year 2014-2015.

Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.