August 17, 2011 -- "The Mega Winners," a group of nine friends and co-workers stepped forward this morning to claim a $250,000 prize won in the CT Lottery’s Mega Millions® game drawing held  Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011.

Bill Phillip of Seymour, makes the weekly purchase of tickets for the group, and checks the results.  “I saw five numbers matching, and I couldn’t believe it,” Bill told Lottery officials.  “This win is going to a great group of people.  Some are getting married, some have new babies, this is really going to help everyone.  It’s luck, pure luck,” he added. 

Since May, “The Mega Winners” have put $5 each towards the purchase of lottery tickets for each of the twice weekly Mega Millions drawings.  Any winnings are shared equally among the nine.

“This is better than any cup of coffee,” said a wide-awake Wilfred Rivera of Wolcott, one of the winners.  Rivera worked an overnight shift and had not slept before heading to Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill with the rest of the group. 

Each winner received a prize share of $27,777.  Steven La Branche of North Haven, will use his windfall on his upcoming wedding.  Daniel Engelhard of Waterbury plans to use part of his share towards a vacation trip. 

“The Mega Winners” are:
Daniel Engelhard, Waterbury
James Kiernan, Waterbury
Darvin Nembhard, Waterbury
Wilfred Rivera, Wolcott
William Phillip, Seymour
Marlon Ferguson, West Haven
Steven La Branche, North Haven
Jacqueline Caban, Meriden
Mark Cassidy, Berlin

“The Mega Winners” matched the first 5 Mega Millions numbers drawn last night, 4-38-41-42-43, but missed the Mega Ball number of 44. 

Shopsmart, located at 43 New Haven Road in Seymour, sold the winning ticket and will receive a $2,500 bonus from the CT Lottery for doing so.