[L_Von_Mises]

This makes me sick. 10 years in prison and a 1/4 million dollar fine for picking up a souvenir off the ground. The article doesn't mention where they found the pieces - it just says "countryside." The way the headline reads one would think they broke into some government installation and stole it. People do less time for murder in some states.

[flying Elvis]

A critical piece of STOLEN material may decide the fates of future astronauts as well as billions of dollars of taxpayer money. Also a critical piece may provide evidence of a wrong doings at NASA. It's been made crystal clear what would happen to thieves of shuttle parts and these two gambled and lost.

[shadowman99]

"...souvenir?"

Interesting. Perhaps you consider the USS Arizona a theme park? And you might think of the WTC site as an empty plot of real estate.

That "souvenir" is first a piece of forensic evidence that will (hopefully) unravel an air crash. And once it has fulfilled that role, it must be remember THIS WAS SOMEBODY'S TOMB YOU SACRILEGIOUS JACKASS!!!!!!

[Texagirl4W]

"People do less time for murder in some states. "

But not in the great state of Texas !!

[steve-b]

People do less time for murder in some states.

Fair enough, given that some pinhead selling a critical piece of evidence on eBay could end up causing the death of another shuttle crew.

[BunnySlippers]

This makes me sick. 10 years in prison and a 1/4 million dollar fine for picking up a souvenir off the ground.

It's not a "souvenir". It's part of a federal investigation. It's not like the perps didn't know they were flouting the law. They're punks.

[lawdude]

"This makes me sick. 10 years in prison and a 1/4 million dollar fine for picking up a souvenir off the ground."

This is the max on conviction. In my 11 years of criminal law, I have never seen the max imposed (except in execeptional murder cases). Sure scares the s**t outta defendants though. They will get a slap on the wrist (my guess).