FWC shuts down crime ring selling priceless Florida artifacts

Tallahassee, Florida –

FWC contact: Katie Purcell, 850-459-6585
DOS Contact: Chris Cate, 813-469-7179
Photos available on FWC’s Flickr site: Go to http://flic.kr/s/aHsjE9K5LM.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), with the support of the Florida Department of State (DOS), completed a statewide investigation Wednesday that included more than 400 felony violations by 13 individuals from the Keys to the Panhandle. The undercover operation shut down a group of individuals who destroyed state lands to illegally uncover and sell historic Florida artifacts.

"The suspects were part of a criminal conspiracy," said Maj. Curtis Brown, head of the FWC’s Investigations section. "Their crimes pose serious environmental, economic and cultural consequences."

Florida statute establishes that historic properties, including artifacts, are an important legacy to be valued and conserved for present and future generations. Artifacts on public lands are part of the public trust and should be enjoyed by all. When people take them and sell them illegally, they are stealing from the citizens of Florida.

"We are all responsible for protecting and conserving our state’s natural resources, including land, water, fish and wildlife, as well as historic items like artifacts. But FWC officers have the extra duty of ensuring everyone is doing their part," Brown said.

Undercover FWC officers infiltrated the operation and gathered evidence to charge the subjects, stopping their illegal business and protecting both the lands and the cultural resources.

"This is not the situation of a family out hiking and finding an arrowhead or other artifact that they want to take home," Brown said. "We did not target the casual collector. These subjects intentionally destroyed lands and rivers for their own personal gain. Some even made their entire living on these illegal sales."

Many of the illegally obtained artifacts were offered for sale online or at trade shows. The asking prices for some of the looted pieces were as much as $100,000.

"Artifacts are a finite, nonrenewable resource. When they are taken, destroyed or stored in private collections without being documented, they, and the history they represent, are gone forever," said Rob Bendus, State Historic Preservation Officer and director of the DOS Division of Historical Resources. "This is a significant loss to the state’s quality of life, history, economy and cultural resources."

The methods used by these subjects were extremely damaging to the environment. They were operating on state lands, illegally dredging rivers and digging massive holes in pristine wooded areas.

"Some of the sites they looted have been completely decimated and will never be able to be studied by professional archaeologists in the future," Bendus said. "Historians are still trying to piece together the history of Native Americans in Florida. These sites hold immeasurable amounts of information that would be extremely valuable to historians and archaeologists who are working to learn more about Florida’s earliest human inhabitants."

This investigation was led by the FWC, but incorporated support from other agencies and organizations as well.

"We truly value our partnerships with the Florida Department of State, the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecutor, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, various archaeological and anthropological societies, Florida universities and Native American groups," Brown said. "Protecting these valuable resources takes teamwork among all of us."

The public can also help by reporting suspected violations to the FWC. To make a report, call the Wildlife Alert hotline – 888-404-FWCC – or text Tip@MyFWC.com.

The suspects and their charges are as follows:

• Nathan A. Curtis (DOB 04/15/87) of Havana, Fla.
• 7 felony counts – Violations of historical resources [F.S. 267.13 (1)( c )]
• 1 misdemeanor count – Theft [F.S. 812.014 (1)(b)–(3)(a)(1)]
• 7 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property, [F.S. 812.019 (1)]
• 1 misdemeanor count – Dealing in stolen property by use of the Internet [F.S. 812.0195(1)]
• Terry Tinsley (DOB 12/02/60) of Havana, Fla.
• 26 felony counts – Violations of historical resources
• 26 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property
• Jacky Fuller (DOB 12/03/58) of Fortson, Ga.
• 103 felony counts – Violations of historical resources
• 103 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property
• 10 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property by use of the Internet
• Johnny Tomberlin (DOB 02/03/59) of Bainbridge, Ga.
• 1 felony count – Violations of historical resources
• 1 felony count – Dealing in stolen property
• 1 felony count – Dealing in stolen property by use of the Internet
• Allen C. Hyde (DOB 04/05/63) of Macclenny, Fla.
• 51 felony counts – Violations of historical resources
• 1 misdemeanor count – Theft
• 50 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property
• James Tatum (DOB 01/25/39) of Fort White, Fla.
• 13 felony counts – Violations of historical resources
• 13 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property
• 1 felony count – Dealing in stolen property
• Donald McAlister (DOB 12/23/67) of Jasper, Fla.
• 1 felony count – Theft
• 52 counts –Removal of artifacts by excavation [F.S. 267.13(1)(b)52]
• Removal of artifacts from state lands/waterways [F.S. 267.13(1)(a)]
• Damage to state lands [F.S. 375.314]
• Possession of cannabis, less than 20 grams [F.S. 893.13(6)(b)]
•  Linda K. Herring (DOB 08/21/73) of Jasper, Fla.
• Removal of artifacts from state lands/waterways
• Removal of artifacts by excavation
• Possession of cannabis, less than 20 grams
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• John Layer (DOB 12/09/40) of Florahome, Fla.
• 1 felony count – Violations of historical resources
• 1 felony count – Dealing in stolen property
• Paul Hilton (DOB 12/21/62) of Silver Springs, Fla.
• 2 felony counts – Violation of historical resources
• 2 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property
• William Walters (DOB 10/28/64) of Dade City, Fla.
• 2 felony counts – Violations of historical resources
• 2 felony counts – Dealing in stolen property
• William Frignoca (DOB 04/14/72) of Sarasota, Fla.
• 1 felony count – Violations of historical resources
• 1 felony count – Dealing in stolen property
• Harlan Trammell (DOB 09/25/63) of Big Pine Key, Fla.
• 1 felony count – Violations of historical resources
• 1 felony count – Dealing in stolen property