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Thanks 437 million, Andy!
The winners of the biggest jackpot of the New York lottery so far have achieved the even more historic feat of collecting their checks anonymously – following the advice of Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Long Island's 23-strong roster garnered $ 437 million, the Mega Millions' exciting New Year's jackpot, Lottery officials said Tuesday.
But like many winners before them, the happy Icelanders did not want names for the vultures and hired local lawyer Eric Jaffe to help them.
He learned that Cuomo had just vetoed a bill that would have allowed the lottery winners to remain incognito – but he also mentioned a loophole.
"If a person wants to remain anonymous, the law already allows such a scenario," wrote Cuomo canceling the legislation.
"In the last 40 years, people who want to keep their name and information out of public view have created limited liability companies to collect their earnings."
The governor's remark seemed to be "an afterthought," Jaffe told The Post – but they ran with it, and it worked.
"The triggering factor was Governor Cuomo's specific statement that you could form an LLC," he said. "So, go on this tongue and a little bit of history [of other cases], they chose to form the LLC. "
The winners claimed their prize under the name New Life 2019 LLC in January and the moolah was passed last week, he said.
They opted for a lump sum payment of $ 262,213,914 – $ 176,155,308 after withholding tax by the state and the federal government, or about $ 7.7 million per person.
Lottery officials – who prefer to cheat their big winners with photos and giant novelty checks – were "very nice" because the group remains secretive, Jaffe said.
"It's not their preference – they're in the public relations business and they want your photo to stand the test," he said.
What Jaffe would reveal about the newly minted millionaires, is that they all work for a retail business in the area of "Nassau in West Suffolk", with fewer than 50 employees, which means that they do not have to pay for it. is "not a chain or a department store".
The winners are "the salt of the earth … people of the working class," Jaffe said, and many are considering keeping their jobs.
"No one is crazy, they get good financial advice. There is a long history of bankrupt lottery winners. They are quite scared, he says.
"I know that they want to travel and pay mortgages, but nobody wants to buy the Yankees."
An employee of the Brookville Auto Service Shop in Glen Head, where the winning ticket was sold, said it had been purchased by a 60-year-old woman who has been arriving every Sunday for more than three years.
"My boss said I sold the ticket. And I'm waiting for the day when anyone who wins comes back and leaves me a tip. Write it down, my friend, "said Niz Aydrogan, 53.
The store will receive $ 10,000 from the New York Lottery for the sale of the ticket.
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