President Trump pardons Florida divers who cut 19 sharks free from longline
Trump Pardons Florida Shark Divers in Longline Theft Case
Updated June 3,2025
Former President Donald Trump issued a pardon to John Moore Jr. and Tanner Mansell, two Florida shark divers, who had been convicted of theft. The case stemmed from a 2020 incident where the divers freed 19 sharks and a goliath grouper from a fishing longline off Jupiter Inlet.
Moore and Mansell encountered the longline, about three miles offshore, on Aug. 10, 2020. believing the line to be illegal, they hauled it ashore and released the entangled marine life. The equipment was valued at $1,300, while the sharks were worth several thousand dollars, according to the vessel owner.
Mansell expressed gratitude after receiving the pardon.”Whether people believe in his politics or not, he chose to pardon me — somebody who deeply cares for the environment and only ever wanted to help,” Mansell said.
Defense attorneys Marc Seitles and Ashley Litwin argued that the prosecution of the divers represented government overreach. The pardons reinstate Moore and Mansell’s rights, which include voting, firearm ownership, and international travel.
The divers stated they contacted state wildlife officers to report the longline, documenting their actions with photographs. These photos were later used as evidence against them in court.
The longline belonged to a vessel authorized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Governance (NOAA) to harvest sandbar sharks for research. Scott Taylor, the boat’s captain, reported the incident, leading to a federal investigation. Prosecutors claimed the divers knew the line was legal but interfered to protect shark populations for their own commercial gain.
A jury found Moore Jr. and Mansell guilty on Dec.2,2022,after deliberating for three days. Judge Donald Middlebrooks sentenced them to one year of probation and ordered $3,345 in restitution.
during a 2024 appeals court hearing, judges questioned the prosecution’s rationale. Judge Barbara Lagoa likened the prosecutor to Inspector Javert from “Les Misérables,” pursuing the divers relentlessly.She noted the divers had contacted law enforcement to report their actions.
“Moore and Mansell are felons because they tried to save sharks from what they believed to be an illegal poaching operation,” Lagoa wrote.”They are the only felons I have ever encountered…who called law enforcement to report what they were seeing.”
The court maintained that the divers intentionally took property that did not belong to them, satisfying the elements of the crime.
“Often in criminal defense,it’s a long road where you feel like you’re banging your head against the wall and no one cares,” Litwin said.”This felt that way.”
What’s next
With the pardons granted, Moore and Mansell can resume their lives without the restrictions of a felony conviction. The case has sparked debate about environmental activism and the interpretation of property rights in marine conservation efforts. The Florida shark divers’ actions and subsequent legal battles highlight the complexities of balancing conservation with established fishing practices.