New York state lottery officials said a pair of brothers cashed in a 6-year-old ticket with a $5 million prize only 11 days before it would have expired. Officials said Andy Ashkar purchased a $500,000,000 Extravaganza scratch-off game ticket six years ago at his parents’ Green Ale Market in Syracuse and came forward March 1, 2012. Ashkar hung onto the ticket for so long because he was concerned the prize “could negatively influence his life if he did not plan properly before being publicly introduced,” the lottery said. Officials said Ashkar did not want his new-found wealth to affect his engagement and subsequent marriage. While waiting, Ashkar decided to share the ticket with his brother, Nayel.