WHITTIER - A group of 11 Montebello Unified School District employees claimed a $12 million SuperLotto Plus ticket sold in Whittier earlier this month.The co-workers have been playing together for nearly two years and are a mixture of full-time and part-time clerical workers. Ramone Solis, spokesperson of the group, said one of the workers urged him to check the numbers after hearing that a jackpot-winning ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven where the group purchases their tickets. Solis visited a local retailer and scanned the ticket, confirming that it was the winner. "Members of the group had heard about a winning ticket being sold in Whittier so they were already assembled when I returned to confirm the win," Solis said. "We all jumped around the office screaming and celebrating." Cynthia Magana, the school employee who purchased the ticket, said she had a "good feeling" about the 7-Eleven and knew that some day they would win. "The owner of the 7-Eleven was so very nice and always wished me luck," she said. "His positive energy convinced me that I should continue buying tickets from him." The group has yet to decide whether they will take the annuity payments or chase option. If they take the cash option, the estimated amount to be divided by all co-workers is $7.1 million.

********** Published: February 17, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 44