-- -Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like a banana. Stranger things have - -happened but none stranger than this. Does your driver's license say Organ -Donor?Black holes are where God divided by zero. Listen to me! We are all- -individuals! What if this weren't a hypothetical question? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tuesday, August 21, 2001 - Updated August 21, 2001, 3:45 p.m. ET FBI arrests eight in scheme to steal McDonald's Monopoly game prizes WASHINGTON (AP) - The FBI has arrested eight people allegedly involved in a scheme that fraudulently netted more than $13 million worth of McDonald's game prizes. Authorities said Tuesday the criminal ring allegedly involved Simon Marketing, Inc., a company responsible for McDonald's game security. Among those arrested was Jerome Jacobson, 58, an employee of the company's security office in Lawrenceville, Ga, whom authorities alleged embezzled winning game pieces. "This fraud scheme denied McDonald's customers a fair and equal chance of winning," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. "Those involved in this type of corruption will find out that breaking the law is no game." Authorities said no McDonald's Corp. employees were involved and that McDonald's assisted the investigation. Jack M. Greenberg, McDonald's chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Customer confidence is at the very heart of McDonald's business. We're determined that nothing gets between us and our customers..." Law enforcement authorities said those arrested were charged with fixing the outcome of McDonald's Monopoly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and other McDonald's promotional games by controlling the distribution of the high-value prize pieces, such as the $1 million grand prize. More than $13 million worth of grand prizes were "won" by the conspirators in this scheme, the FBI said in a statement. The bureau's investigation, called operation "Final Answer," is continuing. All eight individuals were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and felony complaints were filed against them in federal court in Florida. The FBI said the scheme began as early as 1995. The government alleges that those involved provided winning game pieces to friends and associates who acted as recruiters. These recruiters then solicited individuals who falsely and fraudulently represented that they were the legitimate winners of the McDonald's games. The eight made off with some of the highest-value prizes in the McDonald's games, authorities said. But the sources also said that no employees of McDonald's were involved in the scam. Officials said the scam involved McDonald's Monopoly game promotion. McDonald's has offered big prizes - $1 million in cash, diamonds or gold, cars and vacations - to Monopoly game winners. Customers collect game pieces attached to drink cups or obtained through writing to McDonald's. The pieces are redeemable for "instant win" prizes or can be used on a game board available at McDonald's. The company has offered the Monopoly promotion for 10 years, according to McDonald's Web site. "This investigation has required the utilization of some of the most sophisticated and innovative investigative techniques," said acting FBI Director Thomas J. Pickard. Besides Jacobson, those arrested included: Linda L. Baker, 49, of Westminster, S.C.; Noah D. "Dwight" Baker, 49, of Westminster, S.C.; John F. Davis, 44, of Granbury, Texas; Andrew M. Glomb, 58, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Michael L. Hoover, 56, of Westerly, R.I.; Ronald E. Hughey, 56, of Anderson, S.C.; and Brenda S. Phenis, 50, of Fair Play, S.C. ©2001 Courtroom Television Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. [ To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body "unsubscribe man-bytes-dog" (the subject is ignored).]
