In a bizarre case that blurs the lines between virtual and real-world crime, Andrew Lakeman, known in the RuneScape community as “Mod Jed,” has been sentenced after being caught stealing in-game gold and items. The former Jagex developer exploited his privileged access to pilfer resources from players, a scheme that ultimately cost him his job and landed him in legal trouble.
The Virtual Heist
Hired by RuneScape creators Jagex in 2015, Lakeman secretly siphoned items from the player base and laundered them through secondary markets and cryptocurrencies. When the missing items began getting flagged in 2018, Jagex’s support team initially thought it was a temporary glitch. However, when the robberies resumed, an internal investigation was launched, leading to a sting operation that caught one of their own developers red-handed.
“Lakeman was well aware what he was doing was wrong,” says Detective Constable Andrew McKeane. “The hundreds of thousands of pounds he gained from selling the in-game items is no different to any other theft. Just because it’s virtual, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t face the full force of the law.”
From Mod to Mug
Lakeman initially denied the thefts, but his devices and receipts revealed that he raked in nearly half a million dollars through his dealings. Texts suggested he boasted about the scheme to his wife, divulging his plans to target high-paying accounts before departing the company. After a seven-year investigation of this truly strange crime, Lakeman has been sentenced to 150 hours of volunteer work, 25 days of rehabilitation, and a suspended three-year prison sentence. Any further misbehavior will result in him serving that time.
While Old School RuneScape traditionally struggles with more depressing criminal offenses, Lakeman’s McMillions-style scheme highlights the ongoing scrutiny of how game makers grapple with their secondary markets. The relationship between in-game goods and real-world currency has always been contentious, but the popularity of platforms like RuneScape, Roblox, and Fortnite among generally young audiences is raising legal alarms worldwide. In the near future, Valve will have to defend their in-game markets in front of the New York State Attorney General Letitia James regarding their internal take from loot boxes and resellers.
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