RALEIGH – Phalon Whitfield, a sanitation technician from Winston-Salem, said he’s dreamed of winning a big lottery prize since he started playing five years ago. His dreams came true Wednesday when he scratched off the $150,000 top prize on his $500 Mayhem ticket.

“I always felt like I’d win one day,” Whitfield said. “I just never knew when it would happen. Now that it has, it’s still hard to believe. It feels great, though.”

Whitfield purchased the lucky $5 instant scratch-off ticket at the Glenn Deli & Grocery on West Glenn Avenue in Winston-Salem. After state and federal taxes were withheld, Whitfield received a check for $103,876. He plans to use his winnings to pay off the loan on his Dodge Caliber and purchase a new car for his wife.

The $500 Mayhem game went on sale on May 5. As of Thursday afternoon, one more $150,000 top prize remains to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how $112 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Forsyth County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.