Madoff number yields lottery payout

A New York man who used fraudster Bernie Madoff’s prison number to play the lottery said he won $1,500 from the ticket.

Ralph Amendolaro, 50, a construction worker, said he noticed Madoff’s prison number — 61727-054 — on the front page of a newspaper the day after the Ponzi schemer pleaded guilty, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

I’m going to be a winner with this guy even though everyone lost money with him, Amendolaro recalled thinking when he bought the lottery ticket March 13. Somebody had to get a little lucky with him.

Amendolaro said he won $1,500 when 054 popped up in the daily drawing.

Lottery officials said 501 people played the winning number on the same day as Amendolaro.

It’s pretty common when you have a number that hits the public, said lottery spokeswoman Jennifer Givner. A lot of people are very superstitious.