...with an unforeseen consequence. :-) Jon
Dutchman sold pieces of the moon - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSOCIATED PRESS Jan. 28, 2003 | AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- For years, Rene Veenema says he made a small fortune selling real estate plots on the moon. Now he's in jail, on Earth. Veenema, 33, has been accused of fraud and forgery by prosecutors investigating complaints from clients who said they paid for, but never received, ownership certificates for their parcels of land in space, the daily Telegraaf newspaper reported Tuesday. Veenema, who goes on trial next month, was quoted as saying he made thousands of people happy before his business turned sour. He claims he sold plots for around 1,500 euros ($1,600) each through the U.S.-based firm Lunar Embassy. The American company has sold plots since 1996 to owners who include Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, David Letterman, Ed Asner, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Since then, the moon has sold well in Europe -- last year the lots were a popular Valentine's Day gift in Romania -- even though few if any buyers can ever hope to set foot on their property. The paper said Veenema was jailed several weeks ago and that prosecutors are seeking damages in a suit brought by five disappointed investors. "Like most things I start up, the moon project had a promising start. But when the rush failed to materialize -- I had expected tens of thousands of orders per month -- I ordered a car, a house, you name it," he was quoted as saying. "In fact, I have been pulling this off for more than 10 years," Veenema told the newspaper. "My employers, my colleagues, my ex-girlfriend, I conned them all." When he gets out of jail, Veenema said he intends to repay all those he swindled and "learn to stop lying and cheating." _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
