ETNA GREEN -ÊLeo Lopez has been working on the lottery for several years. Now, the lottery will be working for him - for the rest of his life.

Lopez, 34, will receive $3,000 a month for the rest of his life.

Lopez bought a $3 Lucky for Life Indiana lottery ticket Feb. 4 at the 19 & 30 Clark station, Etna Green, that will guarantee him the monthly paychecks.

"I must have done something right along the way," Lopez said.

The woman working at the service station was more shocked than Lopez, he said.

"She freaked out. She couldn't believe it. I had to go behind the register and calm her down," Lopez said.

But this isn't the first time Lopez won money playing the Indiana lottery. He has been playing for three years and spent about $3,000 playing the first year, winning $10,000. He played on some of those winnings and won another $10,000. He put the money in the bank and spent a little. He started playing again, and that's when he won the jackpot.

"I think my reward for helping people out was this," he said.

With the monthly income, Lopez said he will do, "whatever I want to do." He plans to buy a new vehicle, invest some, buy some property and buy a new home.

"I want this money to work for me," he said.

Lopez said he will continue working. He now is the retail manager at BP Lassus in Nappanee. He will, however, step down from that position so that someone else will have the opportunity to be manager.

Lopez is married to Julie and they have a son, Wesley.

"I look at my wife and see nothing but dollar signs in her eyes," he said with a laugh.

They cashed their first check from Hoosier Lottery Thursday.

"It's a little hard to comprehend," he said. "The majority of the people are happy for me."

Lopez said he has been so lucky, the Hoosier Lottery may have to name a ticket after him.

They can call it Lucky Leo. [[In-content Ad]]