Grand Coteau Store Owner Wins $350,000 Lotto Jackpot

When opening his store on Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 Stop Owner Nasir Sohail was met with an exciting message that the $350,000 Louisiana Lottery Lotto jackpot was hit the night before by a ticket purchased in Grand Coteau. It didn’t take long for Sohail to realize that he had purchased that winning ticket at his own store!

“I immediately told everyone in the store, then called my parents!” the 39-year-old winner exclaimed.

Sohail, along with his family, has owned the Grand Coteau convenience store since 2013. He wasted no time in visiting Louisiana Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge with his parents, father Mohammad Munir Khan and mother Parveen Akhtar, first thing Monday morning after the drawing.

Sohail admitted that he hadn’t stopped smiling since finding out about the win. “I can’t feel my face anymore!” he gushed. “This all still feels unbelievable!”

Sohail said he is an avid Lotto player, calling it his “favorite game.” He has played the same set of numbers -- 07-08-10-28-36-39 -- in every drawing for the last two years. On Dec. 9, they matched all six of the winning Lotto numbers drawn.  

“I don’t have any plans yet for my winnings, but I’m thinking about buying another store,” Sohail said. “Whatever my mom and dad want to do.”

The Opelousas resident received $245,000 after state and federal tax withholdings. Even more good news, 1 Stop will also receive a 1 percent bonus of $3,500 from the Lottery for selling the winning the ticket.