Yaheem Jones wasn't even in North Carolina when he found out he won $1 million through the state's education lottery. He was in Colorado.
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"I bought the tickets before I left for Denver and just threw them in my book bag," said Jones. "I flew all the way to Denver with them and everything and I didn't even know I was a winner until a couple of days later."
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"I had the flight pass, my itinerary, my checked bag passes and I see the tickets," Jones said. He scratched them off, revealing a prize he couldn't believe.
Jones flew back to North Carolina from Colorado and guarded the ticket with his life.
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"I didn't take my hand out of my pocket," he recalled, laughing. "Not one whole time!"
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Jones bought the $10 Red Hot Riches ticket from Marks Supermarket on U.S. 64 West in Creswell in Washington County.
Jones, who lives in Creswell and now works as a property manager, is staying true to his military-style discipline. He said he plans to put the money into savings. Jones was previously a combat engineer in the Marine Corps.
After required state and federal tax withholdings, Jones took home $424,503 in a lump sum. Jones' $1 million prize was the game's final one remaining.