The saga of former deep-sea treasure hunter Tommy Thompson took another turn as a federal judge in Ohio ended his civil contempt sentence, although he remains incarcerated.
Tommy Thompson, once known for his incredible find of the S.S. Central America, dubbed the ‘Ship of Gold,’ continues to face legal challenges. Despite his civil contempt sentence being concluded, he’s now required to serve a different sentence for criminal contempt. This follows years of legal tussles over his refusal to disclose the whereabouts of gold coins worth millions.
Thompson’s discovery of the sunken ship in 1988 uncovered a bounty of gold that had contributed to an economic panic when the ship went down in 1857. However, his refusal to locate 500 missing coins has been the focal point of investment disputes and court orders.
In a disciplinary move, U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley ruled that further incarceration would not persuade Thompson to comply with court orders. Yet, without missing a beat, the court instituted a new two-year sentence for criminal contempt, delayed due to the previous sentence.
Thompson’s continuing non-cooperation, citing the coins were supposedly handed over to a trust in Belize, has left authorities and investors without closure. His arrest in 2015, after absconding from a 2012 hearing, led to a plea deal that stipulated conditions he is accused of violating.
Complicating matters, federal law limits contempt sentences to 18 months, yet Thompson has remained in custody due to a federal appeals court ruling against his defense, asserting that his plea deal breaches influenced the decision.
As legal proceedings keep Tommy Thompson behind bars, the mystery of the missing gold coins remains unsolved, leaving a trail of financial and legal complexity.
