Utica Man Wins $5 Million Lottery Prize

A Utica man is the latest New York Lottery millionaire.

New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega presented 49-year old Michael Shepard with a ceremonial check for $5 million on Wednesday at the Price Chopper in South Utica.

Shepard won the top prize on the "100x the Cash" scratch-off ticket, which he purchased for 20-dollars during a routine stop to cash his paycheck.

Shepard said it didn’t immediately sink in at first.  “I think my friends were more excited than I was. I called my financial guy to get some advice and then brought it to the Lottery the claim the prize.”

Shepard will receive a one-time lump sum payment of just over $3.3 million after taxes.

He says he plans to be smart with his winnings and listen to his investment adviser.

Shepard also plans to take a vacation somewhere warm.