$2B Powerball winner Edwin Castro served papers at $25M Calif. mansion in suit claiming ticket was stolen

California Powerball winner who landed a $2 billion jackpot last year was served legal papers at his $25.5 million Hollywood Hills estate in a suit claiming the ticket was stolen, according to a report.

In a surprising turn of events, Edwin Castro, the lucky winner of a $2 billion Powerball jackpot in California, is facing a lawsuit alleging that the ticket was stolen from the rightful owner.

Process servers arrived at Castro’s lavish Hollywood Hills estate on April 25 to serve him legal papers related to the lawsuit. This article delves into the details of the incident and the ongoing legal battle.

The Serving of Legal Papers

A pair of process servers arrived at Edwin Castro’s palatial estate, known for its opulent amenities such as seven bedrooms, an infinity pool, and a spa. According to court filings, a man in his 50s initially attempted to dodge the lawsuit by claiming they were serving the wrong Edwin Castro.

The process servers advised him to contact his attorney if he had any questions or concerns. Eventually, proof of service was filed on May 17, indicating that the legal papers were successfully handed over to a man at Castro’s luxurious residence.

The Lawsuit Against Edwin Castro

The lawsuit, which was filed earlier this year, asserts that Edwin Castro is not the rightful winner of the $2 billion Powerball jackpot. The plaintiff, Jose Rivera, claims that he purchased the winning ticket at a gas station in Altadena the day before the November 8 drawing.

The ticket held a record-setting value of $2.04 billion. Rivera contends that the ticket was stolen from him, casting doubt on Castro’s claim as the legitimate winner.

The Alleged Theft and Co-Defendant

According to Jose Rivera, the alleged theft of the winning ticket occurred on the same day he purchased it. He asserts that a man named “Reggie,” later identified as Urachi F. Romero, took the ticket from him. Romero is listed as a co-defendant in the Alhambra Superior Court case. The complaint, however, fails to provide details regarding the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft and how the ticket made its way into Edwin Castro’s possession.

Refusal to Return the Ticket

Upon discovering the alleged theft, Jose Rivera demanded that Reggie return the ticket. However, Romero claimed to have lost it and instead proposed splitting the winnings with Rivera if the ticket were eventually found.

Refusing to be blackmailed, Rivera reported the theft to the commission and law enforcement agencies, initiating the legal process to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his.