A treasure hunter, sentenced to 10 years for refusing to reveal the “Ship of Gold” treasure location, could soon be released.
A man named Tommy Thompson, who spent ten years in prison, might soon be released.
He was jailed for refusing to share the location of gold coins from a famous shipwreck known as the “Ship of Gold.”
This ship, called the SS Central America, sank in 1857 during a hurricane while carrying gold from California to New York.
The “Ship Of Gold” Story
The SS Central America was transporting a large amount of gold, estimated to be about 21 tons.
This gold was meant to help banks in New York during a financial crisis.
When the ship sank, it contributed to the financial panic of 1857.
For many years, treasure hunters tried to find the ship and its valuable cargo.
In 1988, Tommy Thompson and his team were successful in locating the wreck using sonar technology.
They found the ship on the ocean floor, which sparked interest from many investors who wanted to recover the treasure.
Man jailed for 10 years for hiding “Ship of Gold” location
The story took a turn when Thompson was later involved in a legal battle over the gold coins.
In 2012, he did not appear at a court hearing in Ohio about the coins.
After several years, U.S. marshals found him in Florida in 2015.
At that time, he faced charges of civil contempt because he refused to cooperate with the authorities and disclose where the coins were located.
For every day Thompson remained in jail, he was fined $1,000. This fine quickly added up, reaching over $3 million.
This amount is more than the estimated value of the missing coins, which are worth about $2.5 million.
The man continues to resist revealing information.
While in prison, Thompson appealed his contempt charges, but a federal appeals court denied his request in 2019.
They stated that his refusal to reveal the location of the coins violated the terms of his plea agreement.
Despite serving ten years, he continued to keep the treasure’s location a secret.
Recently, a judge decided to end the civil contempt charge against Thompson.
The judge stated that he was no longer convinced that more time in prison would make Thompson cooperate.
However, this does not mean Thompson will be released immediately.
Treasure hunter who jailed for 10 years after hiding “Ship of Gold” location may be released soon
Instead of being set free, the judge ordered Thompson to serve a new two-year sentence for a related criminal contempt charge.
This means that while one legal issue has ended, another is still in play, keeping him in jail for a bit longer.
Thompson has claimed in the past that the gold coins were given to a trust in Belize.
However, he has not provided any evidence to support this claim.
The mystery of the coins continues, and authorities are still eager to find out their true location.
The impact on investors
Thompson’s refusal to reveal the coins’ location has also affected the investors who funded the treasure hunt.
They are unhappy with the situation, as they expected to benefit from the discovery.
The ongoing legal battles and Thompson’s silence have left many questions unanswered.
The story of the SS Central America and its treasure captures the imagination of treasure hunters and history enthusiasts alike.
The shipwreck is one of the most famous in American history, and the gold it carried remains a significant part of that story.
