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Jupiter, FL - Two Florida divers convicted of theft for releasing marine life from a federally sanctioned fishing line have received full pardons from former President Donald Trump.
On August 10th, 2020, John R. Moore Jr., 56, and Tanner J. Mansell, 29, were conducting a shark-diving charter near Jupiter Inlet when they encountered a longline fishing setup approximately three miles offshore.
Believing the equipment to be an illegal "ghost set," they freed 19 sharks and a goliath grouper entangled in the line, reported the incident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and brought the line ashore.
However, the longline was legally deployed by a fisherman authorized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for shark research purposes.
Federal prosecutors charged Moore and Mansell with theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction.
In December 2022, a jury in West Palm Beach convicted both men.
They were sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $3,343.72 in restitution.
The felony convictions also resulted in the loss of certain civil rights, including voting and firearm ownership.
The case drew criticism from various quarters, including a concurring opinion by Judge Barbara Lagoa of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, questioned the decision to prosecute.
She noted that Moore and Mansell acted openly and reported their actions to authorities, suggesting a lack of criminal intent.
On Wednesday, President Trump signed full and unconditional pardons for both men, effectively erasing their convictions.
Defense attorneys expressed relief, stating that the pardons rectify what they viewed as an unjust prosecution.
Moore and Mansell maintain that their actions were motivated by a genuine concern for marine life and a mistaken belief that they were intervening in illegal fishing activity.
The pardons have reignited discussions about the complexities of environmental law enforcement and the balance between vigilantism and legal compliance in conservation efforts.