Posted on 12/14/2020 1:29:05 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
A former deep-sea treasure hunter who has not disclosed the location of 500 missing gold coins remains in an Ohio jail for the fifth year.
Research scientist Tommy Thompson was been in jail for contempt of court for half a decade - well past the normal maximum limit of 18 months for such cases
Thompson took on a case for 161 investors who paid him $12.7 million to excavate a sunken ship, the S.S. America, which was known as the Ship of Gold and sunk in 1857 during a hurricane off South Carolina.
Thompson took the money but never returned the gold, leading the investors to sue him.
After failing to appear in court in 2012 to disclose the coins' whereabouts, Thompson lived in Florida in hiding for three years before U.S. marshals tracked him to Boca Raton and arrested him.
Thompson pleaded guilty for his failure to appear and was sentenced to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but he had to answer questions in closed-door sessions about the coins, which the government estimated to be worth $2-4 million.
(Excerpt) Read more at apple.news ...
“Even if the guy stole the 2-4 million dollars how is 5 years (ongoing and adding month after month) a punishment that fits the crime? Jon Corzine stole 1.2 Billion dollars and didn’t do a day in jail.”
Accounting nightmare.
Investors: $22 million
Loans and legal fees: $40 million and counting
Proceeds: $50 million
“If the story is correct, then Thompson is a thief and a swindler. He gets no sympathy from me.”
I agree. We have enough thieving, lying and swindling in the world. Hold them accountable x3 as a deterrent.
“Why would investors pay him over $12 mil to get just $4 mil worth of coins?
Something is fishy and it ain’t just the critters swimming through the wreck.”
$22 million for a possible $500 million.
Why would investors pay him over $12 mil to get just $4 mil worth of coins?
I remember, about 12 years ago, listening to Kirby Wilbur (seattle talk radio) being indignant about an apparently unfair story and the people were calling in about how, yeah, that’s just crazy that the cops (or court) would do that. I wondered to myself if there was some tidbit being left out of the story that suddenly made their actions completly logical. I was thinking that because it sounded downright idiotic.
And yes, it turned out that there was such a tidbit. Suddenly it was a “dog bites man” story. It made total sense and everyone got all cranky over nothing.
I watch myself ever since. I try not to go off half-cocked until the story passes the reasonableness test. A perfect example is looking for more sources than just Gateway Pundit. :D
“He could have shown up in court in 2012, and taken the 5th to every question. You are not in contempt if you decline to speak on the grounds you may incriminate yourself.”
Read the next paragraph.
Corzine was in that special group of swindlers and thieves who wear $3000 suits and $200 ties with connected cronies. That gives their ilk a pass.
Them: Why would investors pay him over $12 mil to get just $4 mil worth of coins?
You: That was the first weirdness I saw in the article.
False premise
There are only ever two motivators. Money or a vagina.
If the story is correct, then Thompson is a thief and a swindler. He gets no sympathy from me.
~~~
I agree.
If he didn’t take investor’s money, and then reneg on his obligations, then that might be different.
For example, if he was getting sued by S.Carolina, or some old shipping corporation for example, claiming that the coins belonged to them, then I could sympathize with him not giving up the coin’s whereabouts. But he took investment money in good faith but refused to deliver on his contract.
Hopefully you wouldn’t have to lift such a seat up too often, because it would weigh upwards of 300 lbs. Depending upon style, of course...circular or elongated.
... then prove it in court and sentence him properly. Indefinite jailtime until you obey orders of a judge is not justice.
?
I'll tell ya what I'd do. 2 chics.
YEAHHH. As long as what we used to have as a government don’t get shit.
Not my post.
“... then prove it in court and sentence him properly. Indefinite jailtime until you obey orders of a judge is not justice.”
He was sentenced. He didn’t comply with his sentencing terms.
Them: Why would investors pay him over $12 mil to get just $4 mil worth of coins?
False premise.
1. Investors hoped for $500 million.
2. Proceeds from sales were $50 million.
Maybe spend it on hookers, booze and coke. And the rest he would just waste.
“Maybe spend it on hookers, booze and coke. And the rest he would just waste.”
When arrested he was with his long-time secretary and lover. Both testified that they engaged a third party to set up an off-shore irrevocable trust.
Make Rolls Royce body panels...
the location of 500 missing gold coins
Hmm It would be reasonable to believe that these coins are worth way more money due to the historical significance of the coins. They are not just worth the weight of said gold. Perhaps almost a million per coin??? Now that would be a chunk of change.
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