Syracuse, N.Y. — State lottery officials say two brothers have come forward as the owners of a $5 million winning lottery ticket they bought at their parents' store six years ago.
Lottery officials say that Andy Ashkar, 34, of Camillus and Nayel Ashkar, 36, of Cicero came forward March 1, just 11 days before the top prize in the $500,000,000 Extravaganza scratch-off game would have expired.
Lottery officials say Andy bought the ticket at his parents' market in Syracuse in 2006 and decided to share the winnings with his brother. The agency says the younger brother said he waited so long to claim his prize because he was concerned the windfall could "negatively influence" his life if he didn't plan properly.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
