He’s going where many crooks have gone before.
An Illinois man copped a plea in Brooklyn Federal Court on Monday to marketing a phony medical-data device that he fashioned to resemble Dr. Leonard McCoy’s famed tricorder machine on “Star Trek.”
Howard Leventhal, 56, claimed that the device could instantly deliver patient medical data to doctors and health-care providers in real time.
The scammer managed to convince a Florida company to fork over $800,000 for use of the bogus apparatus, which he named the “McCoy Home Health Tablet.”
“His actions were the stuff of fantasy and science fiction, valid only in another dimension” said US Attorney Loretta Lynch in a statement.
Leventhal had faced more than 20 years in prison but because of his plea deal, is more likely to get hit with around seven to 10 years when sentenced April 3.
Leventhal, who had no prior criminal record but filed for bankruptcy in 2010, convinced backers to fund his venture by presenting contracts he had purportedly secured with Canadian government officials. He forged the signature of former Canadian Deputy Healthy Commissioner Glenda Yeates on paperwork.
He also created fake e-mail addresses that resembled official Canadian ageny accounts.
The scheme fell apart after he bilked Florida firm Paragon Financial Group and turned his attention to a new victim, who turned out to be an undercover federal agent.
Leventhal — who would not admit to any particular love of the classic TV series after the proceeding — also faces more than $1 million in forfeiture and an additional $2 million in fines.