67-year-old Florida woman becomes instant millionaire with lottery win

Woman denied lottery win over unemployment

A woman in Kissimmee won nearly $3,000 on a Florida lottery ticket only to learn the state would not pay her. She was told it was because she was overpaid in unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida woman became an instant millionaire when she claimed a winning lottery ticket this week.

Connie Mallette claimed a $1 million prize from the $1,000,000 A Year For Life Spectacular scratch-off game, the Florida Lottery announced Thursday. The 67-year-old woman from Land O'Lakes chose to get her earnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000.

Mallette bought the winning ticket from CJ Marketplace at 4204 Land O' Lakes Boulevard in Land O' Lakes. The store gets a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.

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