Edwin Castro’s 24-Hour Security Seen Hovering Near Powerball Winner

EDWIN Castro was seen flanked by a massive bodyguard on a recent outing in Los Angeles, amid reports he is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on round-the-clock security.

The Powerball winner is in the middle of a complicated legal conflict with Jose Rivera, who claims he bought the winning lottery ticket.

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Despite losing several lawyers and being accused of filing a false police report, Rivera refuses to back down and is convinced he picked the winning numbers.

Although Castro has hired a celebrity defense attorney, he does not appear to be concerned about the civil case, although sources say he is interested in clearing his name.

The former mechanic was seen last week beaming as he picked up license plates at a restoration shop in Culver City as he continued to shop for old engines.

Photographs exclusively obtained by The US Sun show the 32-year-old surrounded by his entourage after being seen arriving in a darkened car.

He was dressed in his usual casual attire, opting for a navy blue t-shirt with the word ‘Schraders‘printed on the front; products from a restoration store in Azusa, California.

Castro also wore navy blue pants and white and gray Nike sneakers, with his long hair tied into a ponytail.

He was seen checking out a friend’s Ferrari and greeting staff at the store when he arrived with his team.

In one snap, a friend can be seen patting him on the back as he looked in great spirits during the sunny afternoon.

ON HIGH ALERT

One of Castro’s bodyguards stood with his arms crossed, wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt, khaki pants and sunglasses.

According to a New York Post report, Castro hired three guards on a rotating basis to protect himself and his property.

According to the security company Global Risk Solutions, Incthat do not protect you, the price of security can cost between $85 and $215 per hour for a bodyguard.

If they worked 24 hours a day, it would cost Castro around $21,000 a week for his services, the outlet reported.

A source told The US Sun Castro almost never drives alone on tours unless it’s in one of his vintage cars, and is often driven by a member of his entourage.

According to documents from his legal case with Rivera, his security team received the original complaint against Castro at his multimillion-dollar home near Sunset Boulevard.

Edwin Castro Powerball Winning Timeline

When and why Castro was prosecuted

On November 7, 2022, Castro purchased a winning Powerball ticket at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California.

The grand prize was $2.04 billion at the time – the largest in US history.

On February 14, 2023, the California Lottery announced Castro’s win, and he took home a one-time payment of $997.6 million.

Castro’s identity was disclosed, but little information was known about the former mechanic.

In May 2023, Jose Rivera, a California gardener, filed a lawsuit claiming he was the rightful owner of the golden ticket.

Rivera claimed that its former owner Urachi F. Romero stole the ticket before it ended up in Castro’s hands.

Since filing the lawsuit, Rivera has been accused of filing a false police report and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation by a judge.

However, Rivera pleaded not guilty to the charge, passed the evaluation and continues to defend his story.

The lawsuit stated that a guard told the processor in 2023 that Castro was “on vacation” and could not accept anything on his behalf, showing that he is serious about protecting his home when he is away.

He has purchased at least three homes since his November 2022 victory, when he received a lump sum of more than $900 million before taxes.

Castro invested $25.5 million in his Hollywood Hills mansion, as well as $4 million in a large Altadena home for his family and $3.8 million in a Malibu beach condo.

It was previously reported that Castro also purchased a $47 million mansion in Bel Air, but his lawyer confirmed to The US Sun that the reports were false, while records also showed that he is not the owner.

PROCESS UPDATE

His Hollywood Hills estate is nearly 14,000 square feet, has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a pool, gym and multiple garages.

Castro’s security team has been on high alert recently following a nighttime raid near his home in April.

An $8 million home in an upscale neighborhood was allegedly broken into and a call was made to 911 while the robbery was in progress.

KTLA 5 News was the first to report the alleged crime and said three suspects broke windows to get into the house, which is located behind the famous Chateau Marmont Hotel.

It is unknown whether the suspects have been captured and The US Sun contacted authorities but did not receive a response.

Meanwhile, he is still in a complicated legal situation with Rivera, and his new lawyer is preparing for the hearing next month.

The California Lottery continues to support Castro, saying he is the rightful winner, but has not yet released video footage showing ticket sales.

Spokeswoman Carolyn Becker said: “When it comes to the verification process for big winners, the California Lottery has the utmost confidence in its process to do so.

“The California Lottery remains confident that Edwin Castro is the rightful winner of the $2.04 billion jackpot resulting from the November 2022 Powerball drawing.”

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