Lucky Defense Department Couple Lands $217 Million Powerball Prize

At least two federal employees will probably no longer need to worry about furloughs or the pay freeze. A lucky Defense Department couple landed the winning $217 million Powerball jackpot, according to NBC News.

Dave and Nancy Honeywell of Fredericksburg, Va., announced during a press conference on Thursday that they had won the multi-state grand prize.  Dave Honeywell is a computer scientist with Defense and Nancy Honeywell works as a project manager. The couple told NBC News about their immediate shock and reaction after finding out that they had won.  

"I think my heart has started beating again," Dave Honeywell said.

NBC News reported that Dave Honeywell had purchased the winning ticket at Richmond International Airport on the way to Denver, Colo., for a business trip. The couple elected to take the one-time cash payment totaling $136.4 million before taxes.

Lady Luck has blessed other federal employees in past years. In 2005, 16 employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency won the Mega Millions prize; they repeated their success a second time in 2010.