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Illinois man who faked Canada link gets 5 years in prison

NEW YORK (AP) - An Illinois man who forged the signature of the Canadian deputy health commissioner and defrauded investors has been sentenced in New York to five years in prison.

Howard Leventhal was sentenced Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors say Leventhal claimed he had agreements to market a device named after a fictional character on TV's Star Trek series.

They said Leventhal claimed his company, Neovision USA Inc., would market the product as "Heltheo's McCoy Home Health Tablet." The name was a reference to Dr. Leonard McCoy of the Star Trek series.

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

Prosecutors say Leventhal solicited over $26 million from investors.

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

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