Ex Rochester Hotel Employee Accused of Awarding Millions of Fraudulent Reward Points

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A former employee at a Rochester hotel is accused of awarding two people millions of fraudulent rewards points. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Monday. The Rochester man is alleged to have committed the theft last June. 

A Rochester Community Service Officer responded to the theft report, which was filed by an employee with the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester, in August. 

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Charges: Former Rochester Hotel Employee Stole Over $11,000 Worth of Reward Points

The complaint accuses 40-year-old Jason Antwan Matthews of awarding 2,455,250 IHG points to accounts belonging to two people he knows. 

Matthews was identified as the suspect because he used his employee number to award the points, the court document says. 

The dollar equivalent of the points was $11,662.44. IHG was able to recover $10,028.44 worth of points, the complaint states. 

$1,634 were already used before the alleged theft was discovered, which left the hotel on the hook to pay IHG for the points. Matthews admitted to awarding the points when he was confronted by hotel management and law enforcement, the complaint says. 

Matthews was fired when management discovered the alleged theft. He’s charged with one count of felony theft. 

Matthews is due to make his first court appearance next month.

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