U.S.

Guards Secure $131M Jackpot

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

November 30, 2000 / 4:28 PM EST / CBS

A group of 14 security employees at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico won a $131 million jackpot in the multi-state Powerball lottery, lab and lottery officials said Thursday.

"It's certainly the talk of the lab. Within 15 minutes it was all over, the rumor mill is very efficient," said Larry Perrine, a spokesman for the U.S. nuclear weapons design and energy research lab based in Albuquerque. "We're all happy for them."

The 14 employees pitched in for several tickets from an Albuquerque convenience store. One ticket had the winning number drawn late Wednesday — 1, 4, 20, 27, 29 and Powerball 17. The game works by picking five numbers between 1 and 49 and another Powerball number between 1 and 42.

CBS News Correspondent Teri Okita reports the guards each pitched in $10 to buy the tickets. The 14 guards have dubbed themselves New Mexico's First, since this is the first time anyone from the so-called Land of Enchantment has won the multi-state lottery game.

Duane Carr said he didn't believe it when his colleague called him to say they were instant millionaires. But he said that after he confirmed the numbers himself, "the champagne started popping."

"Every Wednesday and Saturday I would buy a ticket," he said. "Now the dream is real."

"You have to dream and hope and that's what happened," Carr added. "All I can say is, 'thank you, Jesus.' "

The group said it's not sure how they want the money paid out: in cash or a 25-year annuity. Each winner is guaranteed at least $5 million dollars.

The Powerball lottery groups 21 states and Washington.

At least one member of the group, Charles Tabet, said that for now at least, he intends to keep working at Sandia National Laboratories. He bought the tickets for the group, and said a machine picked the winning numbers.