A 70-year-old Naperville man who lottery officials said won the largest prize in Illinois history came forward to claim his prize Tuesday. NBC Chicago’s LeeAnn Trotter reports.
A Naperville man who won $265 million, the largest prize in Illinois Lottery history, reportedly has a past riddled with legal problems.
Retiree Jesus Davila Jr., 70, served 12 years of a 25 year prison sentence for a 1994 felony charge of manufacturing and delivery of cocaine, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Davila’s spokesperson Robert Kolt confirmed his conviction to the publication, but contests he has since become a changed man.
“It was a long time ago, he paid his debt to society,” Kolt told the publication. “He’s a good person and anyone can win the lottery.”
Davila, who has four children and four grandchildren, opted to collect his $265 million in one lump sum instead of over the course of 30 years, meaning he'll be walking away with a total of $127 million after taxes.
He was presented with the large, symbolic check, during a Tuesday afternoon press conference, where his spokesperson commented for him on what he hopes to do with the money.
“His dream is to buy a home,” Kolt said. “He told me [he wanted to buy] a big home with a big lawn so that he can get a big lawnmower and drive it all the time.”
