Trafficking in Stolen Goods—Kansas Cosmosphere

Opening arguments in the trial of Max Ary are expected to begin today in Wichita, Kansas.^[1] Mr. Ary, the former director of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, Kansas, is accused of stealing items from the collection, including the nose cone of a rocket, an astronaut’s in-flight T-shirt, a control panel from Air Force One and an Apollo 12 water valve.^[2] Mr. Ary contends that the items were actually part of his own collection.^[3]

He is charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, theft of government property, and transportation of stolen property.

Mail and Wire Fraud
We have previously discussed mail and wire fraud here.

Theft of Government Property
Under 18 U.S.C. § 641 it is a crime for a person to embezzle, steal, or purloin any thing of value of the United States, or any property made under contract for the United States or any agency of the United States.

Violating section 641 is punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.

Transportation of Stolen Property
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2314, it is a crime for a person to transport any good in interstate or foreign commerce with a value of at least $5,000, knowing that that good is stolen.

The punishment for a violation of section 2314 is a fine, imprisonment for up to 10 years or both.

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[1] Ex-Cosmosphere Chief’s Trial to Open, Kansas City Star, Oct. 19, 2005, available here (registration required).
[2] Id.
[3] Id.