Former Disney Employee Jailed for Menu Hack: Allergy Scare, Profanity, & Wing Dings. It is important to point out that no guests were ever in danger; Disney has a review process, and that process worked, the court records show. We have been reporting on this story since it was first brought to the public’s attention when the arrest happened in October of 2024. We can put this to rest now with the sentencing process being completed earlier this week.
A former Disney “Menu Production Manager” has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to hacking the company’s menu creation system, according to a plea agreement obtained by 404 Media and Courtwatch.com and confirmed by the Justice Department. Michael Scheuer, 40, of Winter Garden, Florida, will also be required to forfeit his computer and pay $687,776.50 in restitution to Disney.
Key Details from the Plea Agreement:
- Dangerous Allergy Manipulation: Scheuer reportedly altered allergen information, falsely indicating that certain menu items were safe for individuals with peanut allergies. The original complaint highlighted the potentially deadly consequences of these changes.
- Mass Shooting Hoax: Disturbingly, court records reveal that Scheuer added text to menus referencing locations associated with mass shooting events, creating false and alarming information for guests.
- Broader Disruption: Beyond the allergy and mass shooting hoax, Scheuer’s actions included changing menu prices, adding profanity, and altering all fonts to Wingdings, which rendered menus unreadable and caused temporary system crashes.
- Timeline: The unauthorized access and alterations occurred over three months following Scheuer’s termination from Disney.
- Swift Detection: Disney identified and isolated the compromised menus before they were distributed to guests, preventing potential harm.
The Big Picture: This case underscores the potential for significant disruption and harm that can be caused by disgruntled former employees with system access. The inclusion of false allergy information and the disturbing mass shooting hoax highlight a malicious intent beyond simple sabotage. Disney’s quick detection likely averted a crisis.
“Formidable relationships with the private sector are a pillar of the FBI’s Cyber Strategy. Through the strength in our partnerships, our Cyber Task Force swiftly identified Mr. Scheuer and disrupted his ability to continue threatening the public,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor. “We are committed to safeguarding a robust Cyber Strategy to unmask malicious cyber actors to ensure justice is served.”
Former Disney Employee Jailed for Menu Hack: Allergy Scare, Profanity, & Wing Dings
