Florida diver Tanner Mansell’s conviction for freeing 19 sharks and a giant grouper from what he believed was an illegal trap has been completely erased by President Trump’s unexpected presidential pardon, restoring his voting rights and ability to own firearms.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump granted a full presidential pardon to Florida diver Tanner Mansell, who was convicted of cutting a NOAA research longline and freeing marine wildlife in 2020.
- Mansell and his charter boat captain thought they were stopping illegal fishing activity when they freed 19 sharks and a grouper, and even reported their actions to authorities.
- The conviction had stripped Mansell of civil liberties, including voting rights, firearm ownership, and international travel capabilities, severely limiting his conservation work.
- The case gained attention after a U.S. Court of Appeals judge commented it should never have continued, leading to an article by the Cato Institute that caught the White House’s attention.
- The presidential pardon restored all of Mansell’s civil rights and nullified the $3,343.72 fine that was part of his sentence.
Conservation Efforts Turned into Criminal Conviction
In August 2020, Florida-based shark diver Tanner Mansell and charter boat captain John Moore Jr. encountered what they believed was illegal fishing activity off the Florida coast. Acting on their conservationist instincts, they cut a longline they discovered, releasing 19 sharks and a giant grouper from what appeared to be an unlawful trap. The divers, believing they were preventing a crime against protected marine life, immediately reported their actions to wildlife officials, expecting commendation rather than prosecution.
What the divers didn’t realize was that the line belonged to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which had deployed it for research purposes. Their well-intentioned intervention resulted in federal charges for theft in a maritime zone. In 2022, both men were convicted and ordered to pay over $3,300 in restitution. While they avoided prison time, the felony conviction carried severe consequences, particularly for Mansell’s career and civil liberties.
The Heavy Price of a Felony Conviction
The fallout from the conviction proved devastating for Mansell, extending far beyond the financial penalty. As a convicted felon, he lost fundamental civil rights including the ability to vote, own firearms, and travel internationally – a particularly harsh blow for someone whose conservation work often required global travel. The punishment seemed vastly disproportionate to many observers, including the presiding judge, who noted the men’s environmental dedication during sentencing.
“The judge commented, and he commended us for our dedication to the environment. He gave out what my lawyer said was probably the lowest sentence ever,” Mansell, Florida-based shark diver.
Even Mansell’s legal team consistently maintained that the incident was an “honest mistake” made by conservationists who believed they were doing the right thing by intervening in what appeared to be illegal shark fishing. Their actions were reported to authorities immediately afterward, underscoring their genuine belief they were preventing a crime rather than committing one. The prosecution nevertheless proceeded, resulting in a conviction that fundamentally altered Mansell’s life and career trajectory.
Presidential Pardon Brings Unexpected Freedom
On May 28, President Trump granted a full presidential pardon to both Mansell and Moore, completely clearing their records and restoring all civil rights. The pardon came after the case gained national attention when a judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals commented that it should never have proceeded, prompting the Cato Institute to publish an article about the situation. This publication eventually caught the White House’s attention, setting the wheels in motion for the presidential intervention.
“I was getting a call from my lawyer, and I answered, and he said, ‘Well, I’ve got good news for you. You just got a full presidential pardon.’ I was speechless. I couldn’t even say thank you. I just soaked it in,” Tanner Mansell, Florida-based shark diver.
Mansell was mid-flight when he received the life-changing news from his attorney. The pardon not only erased his conviction but also restored his right to vote, own firearms, and travel internationally – freedoms crucial to both his personal life and professional conservation work. For a man who had dedicated his life to protecting marine ecosystems, the restoration of these rights represented far more than legal relief; it validated his commitment to conservation principles that had inadvertently placed him on the wrong side of the law.
A Second Chance for Conservation
The presidential pardon has allowed Mansell to return to his conservation work without the burden of a felony conviction. His attorney, Ian Goldstein, publicly praised the decision, emphasizing that the pardon was richly deserved given the circumstances of the case and the character of the individuals involved. For many conservatives who have long criticized federal overreach in environmental enforcement, the case exemplifies how well-intentioned citizens can be criminalized despite acting in what they believe is the public interest.
“I can’t think of two individuals more deserving of a Presidential Pardon,” Ian Goldstein, Mansell’s attorney.
Despite the ordeal, Mansell has maintained his dedication to marine conservation and expressed profound gratitude for the pardon. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities at the intersection of conservation, law enforcement, and individual rights. It also highlights President Trump’s willingness to exercise his pardon power in cases where the criminal justice system has produced outcomes that many view as unjust or disproportionate, especially where well-intentioned Americans face severe consequences for actions taken in good faith.
