Registered sex offender wins $14M Lotto prize

Thursday, February 01, 2007 posted 10:23 AM EST

JENSEN BEACH -- Life has taken a startling turn for Edward R. Cowal.

Florida Lottery officials said this week that Cowal, who is a registered sex offender in Florida, was the sole winner of the $14 million lottery drawing Jan. 13.

Cowal, whose name is on an eight-page record from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, elected to take a lump-sum settlement of nearly $8 million before taxes. He purchased the ticket at a Cumberland Farms store in Jensen Beach.

Cowal couldn't be reached for comment, and telephone service to his home -- a one-bedroom mobile home -- has been disconnected.

Attorney James "Mac" Stuckey of Stuart picked up Cowal's winning check.

Cowal assigned the money to Quantum Trust, which he established to handle the funds.

Stuckey said Cowal asked him to be his representative because he wants "absolute confidentiality" and does not want to be bothered by people. Stuckey said he could not comment on any FDLE records for Cowal.

FDLE records show Cowal is a registered sex offender and has a record of arrests for alleged offenses beginning in 1993, ranging from burglary, lewd and lascivious or indecent assault upon a child, trespass, aggravated assault, driving under the influence, probation violation and high-speed fleeing from law enforcement.

He was sentenced to 23 months in prison between 1993 and 2000.

Cowal's mobile home has been on the market at $120,000 for at least 30 days.

Brokers at the Keyes Co. realty office in Jensen Beach could not comment on Cowal.

Workers at the Cumberland Farms store, which will receive $25,000 for selling the winning ticket, said they had not been told who had won.

When told Cowal's name, several workers said they couldn't recall him.

Cowal is the 869th winner of a major jackpot since 1988, according to Florida lottery officials.

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