Thompson and Antekeier, Criminal Contempt, Ohio 2015

Columbus, Ohio Treasure Hunter and Girlfriend Plead Guilty to Criminal Contempt

Columbus, Ohio – In a shocking turn of events, Thomas “Tommy” G. Thompson, 62, and his girlfriend Alison L. Antekeier, 47, both formerly of Columbus, Ohio, have pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in U.S. District Court. The charges stem from a civil lawsuit, specifically disobedience or resistance of the court.

The couple pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley, who accepted their plea. According to court documents, Thompson disobeyed and resisted a lawful order of U.S. District Chief Judge Sargus, who ordered Thompson to personally appear at an August 13, 2012 hearing related to a civil case involving the defendant. Thompson was ordered to provide an accounting of certain funds and the location of 500 re-strike commemorative gold coins as part of a lawsuit over the treasure that Thompson found from the SS Central America shipwreck.

Antekeier was also ordered to appear in U.S. District Court as a witness in the civil lawsuit. She was to appear in court to give testimony related to the civil case on November 7, 2012; a bench warrant for her arrest was issued when she failed to appear.

Thompson and Antekeier were eventually found and arrested by U.S. Marshals on January 27, 2015, in Boca Raton, Florida. The couple had been living in a Hilton hotel room under fake names and paying with cash. As part of their plea, the couple has agreed to forfeit the more than $425,000 in cash that was seized at the time of their arrest.

“Deputy U.S. Marshals in Columbus were relentless in their pursuit of Thompson and Antekeier,” said U.S. Marshal Peter C. Tobin. “Thompson and Antekeier were very sophisticated in avoiding capture and had access to nearly unlimited funds, enabling them to stay completely off the radar for years. The U.S. Marshals Service with Deputy U.S. Marshals across the country can cast a wide net in apprehending fugitives. In this instance, Deputy U.S. Marshals from the West Palm Beach, Florida office stepped up and played a major role in the capture of the treasure hunter and his companion.”

U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart commended the investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Douglas W. Squires, who is representing the United States in this case.

Defendant/Respondent: Thomas “Tommy” G. Thompson and Alison L. Antekeier

Criminal Charges: Criminal contempt, specifically disobedience or resistance of the court

City and State: Columbus, Ohio

Date: January 27, 2015

Sentence/Outcome: Pleaded guilty, agreed to forfeit $425,000 in cash

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