President Donald Trump has pardoned two men who were convicted of theft for doing what they believed was the right thing.
John Moore Jr. was the captain of a shark-diving charter boat. Tanner Mansell was a crew member. In August 2020, the pair believed they spotted an illegal fishing operation and felt compelled to act in the best interest of the animals, freeing 19 sharks and one grouper. They reported the longline to state wildlife officials and even brought it back to shore as evidence.
Unfortunately, the men were later arrested and convicted of theft for the act, as the line belonged to someone who had a license to catch and research the sharks for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The White House just pardoned Tanner Mansell & John Moore—convicted for trying to save sharks from what they believed was illegal poaching gear.
Now pardoned, their case is a textbook example of overzealous prosecution and juries denied full context. @foxmike90 pic.twitter.com/unHmrxD3oa
— Cato Institute (@CatoInstitute) May 28, 2025
While they were able to avoid any time behind bars, the pair was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,343.72. While this may seem like a pretty sweet deal, their federal convictions mean they are unable to vote or travel outside the country.
Trump signed an unconditional pardon for the men, much to the pleasure of Marc Seitles, Moore’s attorney.
“We never stopped fighting, and justice has finally prevailed,” he said following the pardon. “We are thrilled the White House considered our arguments and determined this was an unjust prosecution. We could not be happier for John and Tanner.”
Ian Goldstein, Mansell’s attorney, says the charges “never should have been filed” in the first place, as he expressed thanks for the pardon.
“These gentlemen made an honest mistake and were trying to save sharks from what they believed to be an illegal longline fishing setup. I can’t think of two individuals more deserving of a Presidential Pardon.”
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Author: Sierra Marlee
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