Manuel Noriega Wins $25,000 in Big Spin--No, Not THAT Noriega
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SACRAMENTO — Could it be? Was former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega whiling away his idle time in a Florida prison by playing the California Lottery?
“No, it’s not THAT Manuel Noriega,” a lottery spokeswoman said Saturday. “We’ve all been laughing about that, though.”
Yes, Manuel Noriega did win $25,000 Saturday in the California Lottery’s “Big Spin” show. But this Noriega--Manuel J. Noriega--is a 29-year-old maintenance worker from Montebello.
The other Noriega--Manuel A. Noriega--is reportedly safe in a federal prison in Florida, awaiting trial on drug charges.
Lottery officials say their Noriega is a soap opera fan and enjoys doing crossword puzzles. He and his wife, Velma, plan to invest part of his winnings and use the rest to pay some bills.
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