Ship of Gold Treasure Hunter Arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service

Columbus, OH – Peter Tobin, United States Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, announced today that Thomas Gregory Thompson, and his assistant Alison Louise Antekeier were arrested by the United States Marshals Service, Southern District of Florida (Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force) on arrest warrants issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

On August 13, 2012, an arrest warrant was issued by United States District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. for Thompson’s arrest after he failed to appear at various hearings for an on-going civil case that has been pending since 2006. At that hearing, attorneys who did appear on Thompson’s behalf stated they were hired by Thompson’s assistant, Alison Antekeier. The Court then directed that Antekeier appear to explain Thompson’s absence. Then, on 11/07/2012, after having failed to appear as directed, a similar arrest warrant was issued for Antekeier. The U.S. Marshals Service investigation, as well as various court documents and hearings, led investigators to believe Thompson and Antekeier have been on the run together ever since.

The multi-year investigation spanned the globe but ended not that far from the last documented sighting of the couple in Vero Beach, Florida. The U.S. Marshals Service in Southern Ohio worked in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals in West Palm Beach, Florida to conduct an exhaustive investigation that culminated in the arrest of Thompson and Antekeier at a local hotel. The couple offered no resistance at the time of the arrest and readily admitted to being the targets of the extensive investigation.

Thompson and Antekeier are being held in a local correctional facility pending appearance in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. At a later point in time, the couple will be removed to the Southern District of Ohio for proceedings on their respective charges.

“The United States Marshals Service, in the Southern District of Ohio, along with the three Judicial Districts that comprise the state of Florida, as well as many others, worked tirelessly on this case. They utilized all available resources and were able to accomplish what many thought would be nearly impossible,” said U.S. Marshal Tobin. “Thompson was one of the most intelligent fugitives ever sought by the U.S. Marshals and he had vast financial resources at his disposal. This investigation and these arrests reflect great credit upon the Deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service and our agency as a whole,” concluded Tobin.