Landscaper Marvin Rosales Martinez Finds Winning Lottery Ticket During Superstorm Sandy Cleanup

New York Landscaper Gets Life-Altering Surprise During Superstorm Sandy Cleanup

One lucky landscaper is raking in the dough this year.

In October 2012, 27-year-old Marvin Rosales Martinez found a winning million-dollar lottery ticket while blowing leaves during a cleanup following Superstorm Sandy, the New York Post reported.

Martinez promptly turned the ticket in, and the New York Lottery launched a year-long investigation to find its owner, according to CBS New York. But since there was "no report of theft or of a ticket being misplaced," Martinez was told that the ticket was rightfully his. The win was officially announced on Friday, according to the New York Lottery's website.

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The good news doubled as the perfect wedding present to Martinez's new bride -- he married Miriam Benitez, 24, last month. Martinez surprised her with his winnings on Friday, according to the Post.

The newlyweds opted to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum, according to CNN. After tax withholdings, Martinez will receive $515,612 of the $779,106.

He told the Post that he plans to send money to family living in El Salvador and buy his wife a house.

“My wife and I didn’t go on a honeymoon, so maybe we’ll take a trip to Miami or something,” he said. “I want to keep living a normal life. This won’t change us.”

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