Shark Diver Receives Pardon from Trump

A shark diver from Florida, convicted for illegally freeing released marine wildlife off the state’s coast, was left speechless when he learned about a surprise pardon from President Trump.

Tanner Mansell, 31, got the unexpected news while on a plane on May 28th. He had been sentenced to nearly five years in connection with cutting the longlines used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, being accused of returning 19 sharks and a large grouper to the sea.

“I was really surprised to get the pardon,” Mansell shared in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

Receiving a call from his lawyer, he was told, “Well, I have good news for you. You just got a full presidential pardon.” It took a moment for him to absorb the information.

Both Mansell and his charter boat captain, John Moore Jr., were pardoned but still required to pay $3,300 in reparations after their conviction in 2022 for theft of property under special maritime jurisdiction.

While they avoided prison, they faced restrictions on voting in Florida, owning firearms, and traveling internationally.

“I’m very grateful,” he expressed, emphasizing his appreciation for the unexpected turn of events. “Words can’t really describe it. I’ve always seen myself as a law-abiding citizen, someone who respects both law enforcement and commercial fishermen.”

In August 2020, the diver and his partner encountered a longline attached to a buoy about three miles from Jupiter’s inlet. Believing it to be illegal, they cut it, which inadvertently released apex predators and grouper.

After reporting their actions to the state and returning to the coast, they faced federal charges and were eventually convicted two years later. “In our minds, we believed we were uncovering a crime, not committing one,” Mansell remarked.

He recalled the moment he learned about his conviction: “I felt like my world had stopped, my heart had sunk. We notified law enforcement and did everything we could.” He also mentioned that the judge praised their commitment to the environment during the proceedings and that his lawyer suggested the sentence was unusually lenient.

Mansell’s lawyer, Ian Goldstein, stated that the charges should never have been filed and described the situation as an “honest mistake” made by two individuals trying to save sharks. “We can’t think of two individuals more deserving of a presidential pardon,” he added.