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.