McDonald's Monopoly scam mastermind testifies in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - The Georgia man who masterminded a scheme to steal valuable McDonald&#39;s ``Monopoly&#39;&#39; game pieces testified Monday that he recruited friends to help him distribute and redeem prize winning tickets. <br> <br> Jerome Jacobson of Lawrenceville said he hired friends to find people to redeem the winning game pieces. Jacobson and the recruiters would get cuts of the prizes, which included cash awards up to one million dollars and a Dodge Viper. <br> <br> Jacobson testified Monday in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville, Florida, against five men accused in taking part of the scam. <br> <br> The defendants are charged with stealing high-value game pieces from McDonald&#39;s promotional games such as ``Monopoly&#39;&#39; and ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire&#39;&#39; and illegally cashing them. The pieces were attached to McDonald&#39;s drinks and food boxes or obtained through advertising. <br> <br> Jacobson stole the pieces while head of security for Simon Marketing, the Georgia company that oversaw the games. <br> <br> More than $20 million in fraudulent game pieces were redeemed. <br> <br> Jacobson bought more than one million in homes, cars and other property with his cash kickbacks. He forfeited those purchases when he pleaded guilty April 5. He faces up to 15 years in prison.