I can understand how this might be a valid civil matter if the click-thru agreements were violated (as I'm certain they were). However, the criminal charges seem bogus.
What if Subway were to offer subs for a dollar next Tuesday with the stipulation that each customer could only purchase one. And, like Iraqi voting procedures, Subway would mark customers' hands to prevent them from making multiple purchases. Let's say I found some solvent that removed the marking and was therefore able to purchase 50 subs and sold them on the nearest corner for a profit. Is this illegal?
If you're pretending to be another person, and not just reentering another sotre as Joe Smith then yes, yes it's very illegal hence the criminal charges here. Wiseguys claimed to be thousands of people to game the system, that accounts to a thousand charges of identity fraud.
What if Subway were to offer subs for a dollar next Tuesday with the stipulation that each customer could only purchase one. And, like Iraqi voting procedures, Subway would mark customers' hands to prevent them from making multiple purchases. Let's say I found some solvent that removed the marking and was therefore able to purchase 50 subs and sold them on the nearest corner for a profit. Is this illegal?