Treasure hunter Tommy Thompson remains in prison despite legal victories
- Tommy Thompson has served nearly a decade in jail for refusing to disclose missing gold coins' location.
- A federal judge ended his civil contempt sentence but imposed a new two-year sentence for a related charge.
- Thompson's refusal to cooperate has significant implications for treasure recovery and legal accountability.
In Columbus, Ohio, a federal judge ruled to end Tommy Thompson's civil contempt sentence after nearly a decade of incarceration. Thompson, a former deep-sea treasure hunter, refused to disclose the location of missing gold coins from the S.S. Central America. Initially sentenced for civil contempt in 2015, he accrued significant fines, totaling $3,335,000, while spending years in prison without the intention to comply with court orders. Despite this recent ruling, Thompson will continue to serve a separate two-year sentence linked to a criminal contempt charge. Thompson's troubles began after he discovered the infamous S.S. Central America in 1988, a ship that sank in 1857 carrying a massive amount of gold. The ship, known as the Ship of Gold, vanished in a hurricane, leaving many mysteries surrounding the lost treasure. Over the years, a legal battle ensued regarding his discovery of the ship's riches, leading to multiple investor lawsuits and orders from federal courts demanding his cooperation. His refusal to disclose the whereabouts of 500 valuable gold coins, estimated at approximately $2.5 million, culminated in a judge ordering him to appear in court in 2012. When he failed to appear, authorities tracked him down to Florida, leading to his arrest in 2015. In addition to the criminal and civil contempt charges, Thompson faced penalties due to his violation of a plea agreement, which ultimately resulted in a longer sentence. Federal law typically caps contempt charges at 18 months, but his case was seen as more serious. This legal saga illustrates the complex intersection of treasure hunting and the law, as well as the challenges faced by those seeking to recover historical artifacts. Thompson’s case remains contentious as he continues to hold onto knowledge about the gold coins while the courts search for accountability. His story touches on themes of greed, the allure of treasure, and the consequences of legal defiance, making it one of the more intriguing tales emerging from the depths of maritime history.