Joseph Mangino of Carriere, Miss. was speechless when he claimed the $367,831 Easy 5 jackpot for the Dec. 4 drawing at the Lottery's New Orleans office. 

"I thought I was having a heart attack when I realized I won," explained Mangino, age 48.  "This is the most exciting thing to happen to me since the birth of my child."

Mangino received $257,481 after federal and state taxes were withheld.  He shared that he plans to use his winnings to purchase a new home for his parents.

Mangino bought his winning ticket from Riverside Travel Center on Pump Slough Road in Pearl River. The store will receive a one-time selling bonus of $3,678 or 1 percent of the jackpot prize. The winning numbers for the Dec. 4 Easy 5 drawing were 18-24-30-34-35.

Ticket purchasers must be at least 21 years of age.  Draw-style game tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing.  Anyone who may have a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem should call toll free 1-877-770-7867 for help.  For security purposes, the Lottery strongly encourages players to sign the back of their tickets immediately after purchasing.