<div id="post-1300"><br />
<!-- .entry-header --><br />
<!-- .entry-meta --><br />
<br />
<div class="post-thumbnail"><br />
<img post-id="1300" fifu-featured="1" width="1200" src="https://i2.wp.com/assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/77920/aImg/81936/gold-nugget-meta.png?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Man Jailed For 10 Years For Refusing To Reveal Location Of “Ship Of Gold” Treasure May Soon Be Freed" title="Man Jailed For 10 Years For Refusing To Reveal Location Of “Ship Of Gold” Treasure May Soon Be Freed" decoding="async"/><br />
</div><!-- .post-thumbnail --><br />
<br />
<div class="entry-content"><br />
<p>A former treasure hunter and research scientist, who has spent a decade in prison for refusing to disclose the hiding spot of 500 lost gold coins, may soon experience a change in his situation. A recent ruling by a judge has lifted the civil charges against him, indicating that further time behind bars is unlikely to persuade him to reveal the information.</p><br />
<p>The story dates back to 1857 when the SS Central America tragically sank during a hurricane while transporting passengers from California to New York. The ship carried an incredible 21 tonnes of gold nuggets and coins, earning it the moniker "Ship of Gold." This treasure was intended to stabilize banks in New York but instead played a role in the financial panic of 1857 after its demise.</p><br />
<p>Fast forward to 1988, when a team led by researcher Tommy Gregory Thompson successfully located the long-lost treasure using advanced sonar technology, after more than a century of searching. Among the recovered items were 500 gold coins valued at approximately $2.5 million, which have kept Thompson incarcerated since 2015.</p><br />
<p>Thompson's refusal to reveal the coins' location resulted in a civil contempt charge in 2015, accruing fines that topped $3 million over time. Despite having served 10 years in prison, a judge has now opted to dismiss the civil charge. However, Thompson still faces a separate two-year sentence for a related criminal contempt charge.</p><br />
<p>Throughout his time in prison, Thompson has consistently refused to disclose the location of the gold, asserting that the coins were placed in a trust in Belize, but has shared no additional details. The judge has expressed skepticism about whether additional imprisonment would lead Thompson to cooperate, leaving his potential release date unclear.</p><br />
</div><!-- .entry-content --><br />
<!-- .entry-footer --><br />
</div><br />
