Silver Spring man wins big for second time
James Warren of Silver Spring enjoyed some unexpected fireworks on July 4th, when a series of numbers with a family connection lit the fuse for his $30,000 Powerball win.
“My passion is my wife, but I also like bowling and Powerball,” James said. The former federal worker is a loyal Powerball fan who started playing the game nearly a decade before it came to Maryland. He buys tickets for 10 draws at a time and usually plays the same numbers until they hit. Both times he’s become a Powerball winner, James was just one number away from claiming million-dollar prizes.
“My buddies call me the thousand-aire,” he said. His previous Powerball win came from a ticket bought through the D.C. Lottery. It delivered a $200,000 prize that enabled James to retire comfortably.
The 66-year-old purchased his latest winning ticket from Aspen Hill Lottery, Beer & Wine located at 13745 Connecticut Avenue in Silver Spring. The Montgomery County resident played the numbers 3, 6, 14, 18 and 21 while selecting a second 21 for the Powerball. James also added Power Play, which wound up multiplying players’ wins by 3 on July 4. The set of numbers was inspired by his late father and combined birth dates of six children.
“The 3, 14 and 18 are my sisters’ birthdays, 6 is my brother’s and I share the 21st with another sister,” he said. On July 4, James matched four of the numbers drawn plus the Powerball, winning $30,000 due to the Power Play multiplier.
The funds from this latest win will bankroll some needed home improvements, he said. James plans to keep playing and has already created a new secret set of numbers! Good luck!