Man who faked Canada link for 'Star Trek' tablet gets prison

An Illinois man who forged the signature of the Canadian deputy health commissioner and defrauded investors in a scheme referencing the "Star Trek" TV series has been sentenced in New York to five years in prison.

Howard Leventhal was sentenced Tuesday in federal court. Prosecutors say he claimed he had agreements to market a device named after a "Star Trek" character. They say he claimed his company, Neovision USA Inc., would market the product as Heltheo's McCoy Home Health Tablet, a reference to the DeForest Kelley character Dr. Leonard McCoy.

The government says Leventhal claimed agreements signed by Canada's former deputy health commissioner Glenda Yeates.

Prosecutors say Leventhal solicited more than $26 million from investors.

The 60-year-old Grayslake, Illinois, resident had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.