Two charged with Neil Armstrong customs form theft
Two US men were charged with stealing a customs document from Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, with the goal of selling the former astronaut`s autograph.
|Last Updated: Jul 21, 2010, 09:12 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Massachusetts: Two US men were charged with stealing a customs document from Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, with the goal of selling the former astronaut`s autograph.
The pair, who were charged in Boston federal court, attempted to sell the form Armstrong filled out at the city`s Logan International Airport on March 13, legal documents said.
Defendant Thomas Chapman, a customs official, offered Armstrong help with his luggage as he arrived back in the United States after visiting US troops stationed overseas.
But instead of submitting the former astronaut`s customs form to the Department of Homeland Security, Chapman pocketed the document signed by Armstrong, who made history with Apollo 11 comrade Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin when they stepped on the moon 41 years ago.
Chapman and co-defendant Paul Brickman then allegedly approached an online memorabilia auctioneer with the signed document, hoping to make some money from the "autographed" form.
If convicted of stealing and conveying an official document they both face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 250,000 dollars, the prosecutor`s office in Boston said.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.