Trump Pardons South Florida Divers Convicted for Freeing Sharks From Research Longline

Believing the fishing line was illegal, the two men freed the sharks and a grouper, reported it to state wildlife officials, and brought the line back to shore.

President Donald Trump waves to members as the press as he walks to board Marine One at the White House on May 30, 2025. Bryan Dozier/Middle East Images via AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump has granted full and unconditional pardons to two shark divers who were convicted of theft after releasing 19 sharks and a giant grouper from a research longline off the coast of Jupiter, Florida.

The pardons, signed Wednesday, clear the records of Tanner Mansell and John Moore Jr., who were found guilty in 2022 of theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction, according to pardon documents from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The convictions stemmed from an incident in August 2020, when Moore, the captain of a shark-diving charter boat, and Mansell, his crew member, encountered a longline about three miles off Jupiter Inlet, according to court records.

Believing the fishing line to be illegal, the two men freed the sharks and a grouper, reported the line to state wildlife officials, and brought it back to shore.

Federal prosecutors later charged them with theft after determining the line belonged to a fisherman licensed by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration for shark research.

Mansell and Moore were convicted by a jury and sentenced to one year of probation each, 50 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $3,343.72 in restitution, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Moore was also fined $1,000. The felony convictions had barred both men from voting in Florida, owning firearms, and traveling freely outside the United States.

Justice ‘Finally Prevailed’

The presidential pardons, issued under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, erase all penalties, fines, and restitution associated with their convictions, according to the pardon documents. The documents state that the attorney general was directed to sign the grants of clemency on Trump’s behalf.

Attorneys for both men welcomed the decision. “We never stopped fighting, and justice has finally prevailed,” said Marc Seitles, Moore’s attorney, in a statement. “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.”

Mansell’s attorney, Ian Goldstein, expressed similar sentiments. “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,” Goldstein said in a statement.

After his conviction was overturned, Mansell told the Palm Beach Post that he and Moore had good intentions when they freed the marine mammals and commended Trump for recognizing that.

“Whether people believe in his politics or not, he chose to pardon me—somebody who deeply cares for the environment and only ever wanted to help. I can’t help but feel extremely grateful,” he told the news outlet.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News