LAGUNA NIGUEL : Board Game Creator Sentenced to Prison

A Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced a South County businesswoman to two years in state prison after she failed to make $245,000 in restitution in connection with a Michael Jackson board game that authorities allege was a fraud.

Stacia Alden, formerly of Dana Point, was taken into custody after the hearing, a move cheered by several investors in the audience who said they long ago gave up hope of getting their money back from the game, which was never produced.

“At least she can’t victimize anyone else,” said Susan Sodergren of San Clemente, who invested $2,500 in the Michael Jackson board game. “Of course, I’d still like to get my money back, but the only potential she has is to get other victims to invest.”

In a two-page, handwritten statement drafted during the court hearing, Alden maintained her innocence and said she never “intentionally misled anyone” about the board game.

“It is still my opinion, and many people agree, had I not been attacked from every side, the project would have proceeded,” Alden wrote.

Alden, the creator of an Elvis Presley game and several others based on the lives of the rich and famous, pleaded no contest last November to 16 counts of securities fraud involving the Michael Jackson game.

Authorities say Alden persuaded about 50 people throughout Southern California to invest in the “Michael Jackson Infinity” game, despite knowledge that she lacked the necessary agreements with the pop superstar to sell limited partnerships in such a venture.

Investors described Alden as an extremely charismatic saleswoman who was utterly convincing in promoting her games.

The limited partnerships in the game, ranging from $1,250 to $25,000, were sold between July, 1989, and June, 1990, authorities said.

Alden’s lawyer, Scott B. Well, said his client always believed she had a “good faith” agreement to manufacture the game, and only entered the no-contest plea as a way to pay back “disgruntled” investors, who should have been aware of potential risks.

Even if the game had been produced, financial returns could have been hurt given the recent allegations of child abuse leveled against Jackson, Wells pointed out.

As part of a plea bargain struck in November, Judge Pamela Iles said she would dismiss the case if Alden would make restitution to all investors of the game who wanted their money back. Without full restitution, Iles said she would sentence Alden to two years in state prison.

By Thursday, after months of delay, Iles said she had only received $48,400 from Alden out of a total $245,320 owed, prompting the two-year prison sentence.

Although Alden was taken into custody, she still has 120 days to make full restitution and satisfy the plea agreement.