Convictions Erased for Four Men in McDonald's Game Scam

[hightime]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - An appeals court has thrown out the convictions of four men found guilty in a multimillion-dollar scheme to cash in on stolen winning tickets in McDonald's promotional games such as "Monopoly" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found "a complete failure of proof" on the conspiracy charge and concluded the men were convicted of a conspiracy that they were not charged with.

The decision means the men cannot be retried, and restitution orders ranging up to $786,500 each are rescinded.

"Praise the Lord and the 11th Circuit," said Curtis Fallgatter, attorney for defendant George Chandler
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBU9V3EWWD.html

[AP]

1. Uh, this was Ashcrofts first big signature prosecution.

In the first few months of Bush's admin, I couldn't wait to see what Ashcroft would use as his first big case. This was it. He had a big press conference.

I was stunned by the chutzpah. His idea of protecting the public was protecting the integrity of a McDonald's promotional marketing activities.

And now it turns out that he couldn't even get a conviction?

Lord.

[Toucano]

6. But he did get a conviction.

It was a wrongful conviction, and it was a conviction for a conspiracy they weren't charged with, but let's not be perfectionists okay?

I mean that's why pencils have erasers, right!

It's also why people who lose elections to their dead opponents hadn't oughta' be in positions of power. :)

[mom cat]

2. So they get to vote. Are they white?

[CO Liberal]

3. So...How Much Did They Contribute to the GOP???

Enquiring minds want to know....

[fob]

4. *Ahem* cough* $786,500 each *cough*

I think there's no way to know. *cough*

[Arbustosux]

5. They must have been Republicans

!