8 Women May Hold $276 Million Powerball Ticket

Monday, March 17, 2008 posted 11:22 PM EDT

Eight women who believe they hold a Powerball ticket worth $276.3 million are public servants who reported to work as usual Monday, but at least one of their husbands has already quit his job.

Sheriff's Deputy Roger Magro told The Associated Press that his wife, Crystal, and seven other women in the Monongalia County tax office believe they won the Saturday night drawing.

"It's their day," he said shortly after turning in his resignation letter. "I'm just tagging along."

The West Virginia Lottery is working to confirm the validity of the ticket and has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday afternoon, spokeswoman Libby White said.

Lottery Director John Musgrave talked Monday with Linda Fominko, chief deputy in the tax office and one of the eight apparent winners, White said.

"They have sought professional advice and seem to be well prepared," she said.

One of the women came knocking at his door at 2 a.m. Sunday with the news, Magro said.

"I just thought, 'You're full of baloney,'" he said. "But she was adamant about it."

The eight women declined interviews, quietly serving taxpayers and accepting congratulations in the courthouse basement as a few sheriff's deputies kept watch.

If the ticket is validated, the group would receive a lump sum payout of nearly $140 million before taxes. After taxes, the payout would be $95.5 million, White said. If divided eight ways, each person would receive nearly $12 million.

Powerball is played in 29 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The record jackpot was $365 million won by eight workers at a Nebraska meatpacking plant in February 2006. Saturday night's win is the seventh-largest in Powerball history.

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