Treasure hunter marks five years in jail for refusing to give up his gold

While not a tale concerning ancient coins, it is an interesting one nonetheless.

From the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/14/tommy-thompson-treasure-jail-ship-of-gold

 

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A shame those investors will probably never see their money again

 

What a weird story.

His version of events obviously doesn't seem quite right (not least of all because the coins are purportedly in Belize) but I still find it distasteful that he's been held behind bars so long over this, especially so if the coins really were only worth $2-4 million. Considering his investors put in nearly $13 million it sounds like they made a terrible investment and have only themselves to blame in the end. On the other hand, perhaps in reality he found much more than the 500 coins, maybe that's why he's willing to stay in prison and keep paying the fine...

 

Odd to say the least, personally get the feeling he may have found more than what he initially stated and that's why he is refusing to turn over the Belize assets to be reviewed and/or location of said wreck. In hopes of being able to get out and claim the entirety to himself.

 

Seems to me they might have a better chance of tracking down the stolen loot if they let him out of jail and kept a good eye on him.

 

Maybe Alaric can help his investors find the hidden gold...

 

There is his story and the investors story. Somewhere in between is the truth.
Did Thompson have a crew, etc.?

 

I think the investors did not do enough checking on this man to find out how reputable he was/is. Could he have gotten all that gold by himself? Probably not. I think that finders of the ship got what they deserves. The man has not been found guilty of a crime as I read the info. Am I wrong?

 

Yes, he's plead guilty and made plea deals for chargers as well as facing others and not appearing.

 

I take a very skeptical view of "investing" in ventures such as this one. Years ago one of my local coin dealers invested a couple thousand in one of Mel Fisher's salvages. He was paid back in two coins from the salvage, both of which were corroded, worn 8 reales, with little if any detail. They were accompanied by the certificates which, it seems nowadays, are worth much more than the coins. Still, I think the whole scheme was a ripoff.

 

This guy sounds like he isn't playing with a full deck . At 68 years old & living in a prison, how long does he think he can hold out . Living on a poor prison diet & the risk of contracting Covid-19 or Aids, why hold out any longer . Even if he was released he would never be able to put his hands on that gold without the Feds seeing it .

 

This whole story makes no sense. The investors paid him $12.7 million to find a ship and the treasure is only worth $2-$4 million????????

And if the guy has served more time for contempt than his original sentence was going to be, it is time to let him out.

 

Make a new deal with him. He wants to be released? Offer him release for wearing a bracelet or anklet tracking device.

 

As always theres more to these stories including one of his former attorneys having to resign from law from legal misconduct and got a huge fine.

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190...practicing-law-in-ohio-amid-disciplinary-case

Of course it's a sexier story for the media to pretend hes a victim

 

He had a deal, part of that deal was to tell them where he hid what he found and he refused. Do not reward someone with a new deal for not honoring their old one

While it would be easier to find the treasure by just following him and bugging his phones, you can't set the precedent that if you don't follow your deal we will just give you one you like better.

 

Maybe the judge was one of the investors and I thought I read about this ship some time ago and the treasure was a much greater value. I will try to find the article.

 

SS Central America sank with prox. 9.1 tons of gold equaling 262,500 troy oz.
If all the gold was found, the value at today's spot would be $487M+ which would be a logical investment for speculators @ 12 - 13M. I do not know the particulars of the search and recovery agreement, but it was probably something like: After all expenses, the net value would be 90% for the investors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Central_America

 

So just imprison him until he dies?
Even someone who is tried, convicted, and sentenced for murder will serve his time and be released. This guy is being imprisoned for contempt with no chance for release. How can you not see the disparity in this scenario?

I'm suggesting a way to possibly have him taste 'freedom' again, and maybe lead the authorities to the treasure. If not, then he's not reaping the rewards of the treasure either. But holding him in perpetuity is not the answer.

 

He can be released anytime he wants to. He holds the keys to his freedom, unless you believe that he genuinely forgot where the gold is.

 

As stated in my post, just hold him in perpetuity. That seems like the equitable punishment. I mean murderers and rapists serve their sentences only to be released upon time served. This is certainly a crime more severe than rape and murder, right?