'Balloon Boy' balloon up for auction

SPRING HILL, Fla., June 2 (UPI) -- The parents of the Florida "Balloon Boy" said they are selling the infamous balloon to raise money for victims of the Japanese tsunami.

Richard and Mayumi Heene of Spring Hill, who made headlines in October 2009 when they falsely claimed their son, Falcon Heene, had stowed away in the balloon when it was launched into the sky, said the balloon is being auctioned with a "purchase now" price of $1 million to raise money for relief in Japan, where Mayumi has family members, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Thursday.

Richard Heene said a California attorney is running the auction at balloonboyflyingsaucer.com and bids will be accepted through June 7.

The 2009 hoax resulted in Richard pleading guilty to felony charges and serving a 28-day jail sentence. His wife was sentenced to community service for a charge of filing a false police report.