"He's Dead, Jim. You Get His Phaser, I'll Get His Wallet..."

Actual GE product

New York: An Illinois man who persuaded a company to finance a nonexistent telemedicine computer tablet named after the physician on the original "Star Trek" television show admitted to a $US25 million fraud scheme.

Howard Leventhal, 56, pleaded guilty Monday before US District Justice Brian Cogan in Brooklyn, New York, to wire fraud for falsely claiming that his company, Neovision, had a contract with the Canadian department of health. Mr Leventhal, of Long Grove, Illinois, faces as long as 22 years in prison at his sentencing, according to a statement from the office of Brooklyn US Attorney Loretta Lynch.

Mr Leventhal told investors his company had agreements to provide Canada with a telemedicine device named after Leonard McCoy, the starship doctor portrayed by DeForest Kelley, prosecutors said.

Now that we have Dick Tracy's two way wristwatches, I suppose it's only natural to expect Bones' tricorder to be just around the corner. Oh, and by the way, did I tell you I could get you in on the ground floor of the first generation Tardis they're building??? A small investment on your part will reap great rewards...for me!

Or, as Dr. McCoy might have said, "Dammit, Jim! I'm a doctor, not an investment counselor!"