Fools like that are very much at risk of arrest.
They are stealing goverment property, and obstructing an important investigation.
I think you can comfort yourself that anyone doing so will get caught.
I hope that the criminal justice system makes an example of anyone caught doing this.
Remember too, this is the internet. People love to play hoaxes of all kinds just to piss folks like you off. Take any news with a grain of salt. If anyone actually does this, they’ll get what’s coming to them.
Anyone who sells Columbia debris on Ebay should provide a Certificate of Authenticity. I mean, if I’m buying a charred human leg, I want to know that it’s definitely a leg from Columbia. I wouldn’t be surprised if untrustworthy individuals would just put any ol’ leg up for sale.
Heard on the radio today that e-Bay is taking them down as fast as they are going up, suspending privileges for the perpetrators, and offering full cooperation with any federal authorities interested in tracking down the individuals responsible.
The e-Bay representative also said that, of course, there is now a huge amount of Columbia/NASA memorabilia being offered, but this is normal and expected, and such items are pretty popular at all times.
The rat bastards doing this must be incredibly stupid; even if the government doesn’t want to bother with prosecuting them, don’t they realize that some federal representative is soon going to show up on their doorstep looking to retrieve the item? Hell, they’ve got divers going into Toledo Bend reservoir and men on horseback scouring the woods looking for pieces - they want it all, if possible. Idiotic dipsticks! They’re screwed both ways, because if they don’t have the item, they’re guilty of fraud!
What’s sad is that this stuff is being offered for sale because there are people who will pay huge amounts of money for it. Fucking ghouls.
Dumbasses!
I sincerely hope that a US Marshal arrives at the home of any scum waffle engaging in such behavior.