Lifelong Otero County resident wins near-record $390,000 prize.

Gabriella Chavez got all five numbers correct in the Dec. 17 drawing for the New Mexico Lottery Roadrunner Cash prize, winning $390,000 -- just $10,000 short of the previous top winner of $400,000 set last March, the New Mexico Lottery Authority announced.

Chavez, whose mother Ramona Chavez won $605 in the same drawing, didn't claim her prize right away, following the Lottery Authority's advice that big winners should get legal and/or tax guidance before starting the claim process, according to a news release.

Chavez, who is a government employee, is the largest individual Roadrunner Cash winner to date -- the record $400,000 was shared by two ticket-holders, the Lottery Authority said.

"My husband and I work hard," Chavez said at Lottery headquarters in Albuquerque, according to the release. "This is our opportunity to do something for his family and my mom."

The winning ticket was sold at Northtown Chevron, 3301 N. White Sands, in Alamogordo, the release said.

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