Lake Orion, MI – Gregory DiFranks, a 63-year-old resident of Lake Orion, recently discovered he had been carrying a $140,964 winning Fantasy 5 ticket in his wallet for several days without realizing it. The winning numbers for the Jan. 30 drawing were 05-09-17-31-39, which DiFranks matched after purchasing his ticket at the Orion Market located at 576 West Clarkston Road in Lake Orion.
DiFranks recounted purchasing a mix of Fantasy 5 and Lotto 47 tickets during a routine stop at the party store. The realization that he might hold the winning ticket only struck him after overhearing a conversation at his local bar about a big winner sold by Orion Market. “I forgot I’d purchased tickets, so I didn’t think much of it,” DiFranks said.
The discovery came days later when he stumbled upon the tickets in his wallet. A store clerk helped him check the tickets, revealing he was the holder of the significant prize. DiFranks shared the exciting news with his wife immediately, telling her he had “big news” as he headed home.
Upon claiming his prize at the Lottery headquarters, DiFranks outlined his plans for the winnings: a trip to Mexico followed by saving the remainder. Having played the Lottery since its inception, DiFranks expressed immense joy at his substantial win, marking a high point in his long history of Lottery participation.