Man Pleads Guilty in McDonald’s Game Scam

The man who masterminded the theft of $24 million in winning McDonald’s game tickets pleaded guilty and was ordered to repay at least $13.4 million.

Jerome Jacobson, 59, of Lawrenceville, Ga., could get up to 15 years in prison for conspiracy and mail fraud. No sentencing date was set.

He was among 51 people indicted in the scam that went undetected for a dozen years and involved McDonald’s games such as Monopoly and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? No McDonald’s employees were involved.

Jacobson was director of security for Simon Marketing Inc., which had been hired by the fast-food chain to run its popular Monopoly games. Prosecutors said Jacobson stole winning game pieces worth up to $1 million and distributed them to others, who then redeemed the prizes.