A Florida grand jury last week indicted 21 people for conspiracy to commit mail fraud by stealing high-value gamepieces from promotional games run by McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook, IL (Aug. 28 XTRA). Ringleader Jerome Jacobson had been director of security for Simon Marketing, Los Angeles; he was formally charged with embezzling more than $20 million in high-value gamepieces and distributing them to individuals who redeemed them directly or recruited others to redeem them. The indictments identified five recruiters, 12 “winners,” and three others who served in both capacities.
The indictment from the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville reads, in part: “It was part of the conspiracy that Jerome P. Jacobson would abuse his position of trust with his employer, Simon, by embezzling high-value game pieces associated with McDonald’s promotional games.”
McDonald’s $10 million giveaway over Labor Day weekend, which awarded cash prizes to 55 instant winners in 25 states over five days, included four Florida locations.
Separately, McDonald’s has lent its Ronald McDonald character to the National Dairy Council for its got milk? Milk Mustache campaign. Print ads with a mustachioed Ronald break in October issues of mom- and kid-targeted magazines. No promotional tie-in is expected. Bozell, New York City, handles the ad campaign.
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