DOCUMENT: Crime

Feds: NASA Worker Boosted Shuttle Souvenirs

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Feds: NASA Worker Boosted Shuttle Souvenirs

SUED: Jim Morrison's parents take The Doors to court.

April 24--A NASA employee was arrested today and charged with stealing debris from the Columbia space shuttle. Michael Pankiewicz, who worked as a quality assurance specialist at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, was one of many NASA employees entrusted with searching for and collecting pieces that fell to earth following the Columbia's February 1 explosion. According to the below federal indictment, the 44-year-old Pankiewicz swiped debris--which prosecutors did not describe, but valued in excess of $5000--that he recovered in eastern Texas. Pankiewicz has been charged with embezzlement, transporting stolen goods, and making false statements to NASA investigators. (4 pages)

Fox News engineer charged with smuggling Iraqi souvenirs.