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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Powerball winning trio says no secret fourth

Associated Press

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Three money managers awarded a $254 million Powerball jackpot said Tuesday there’s no fourth participant despite a claim they’re covering for a winner who wants to stay anonymous.

Greg Skidmore, Brandon Lacoff and Tim Davidson, who work at an asset management firm in Greenwich, one of the most affluent towns in America, came forward as the lottery winners Monday. Their lawyer said they formed a trust to manage the money after Davidson bought the $1 winning ticket at a Stamford gas station.

But Thomas Gladstone, who identified himself as the landlord for the men’s company, said he was surprised to learn Lacoff was among the winners because he made no mention of it when he saw him Friday. So Gladstone called Lacoff on Monday night.

“He said, ‘No, I didn’t win the lottery. We’re representing the guy who did,’ ” Gladstone said. “He said he represents the guy who’s staying anonymous.”

Asked who the real winner is, Gladstone said, “They’re protecting him. That’s the whole purpose of putting this in this trust.”

He said the real winner, a client of the men’s firm, wants anonymity because people “get harassed and hounded when they win the lottery.”

His claim was first reported by the Daily Mail newspaper of Britain.

A statement from the men’s Putnam Avenue Family Trust said “there has been much speculation and quite a bit of misinformation over the last 24 hours.” It said the trust was established to manage the winnings to help those who can benefit from the money.

“And to be clear, there are a total of three trustees and there is no anonymous fourth participant,” the statement said.