Tommy Gregory Thompson is known for his leading role in the rediscovery of SS Central America on September 11, 1988.
He is also the author of the book America's Lost Treasure, published in 1998.In 2000 he sold gold recovered from SS Central America for $52 million.
In 2009 he had an off shore account in the Cook Islands of 4.16 Million.
In 2013, the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of Ohio issued an arrest warrant for Civil Contempt for Thompson for his failure to appear as directed.
In 2014, the same Court issued an additional arrest warrant for Thompson for Criminal Contempt.
The investigation was assigned to DUSM Mark Stroh, U.S.
Marshals Service, Southern District of Ohio.
Thompson was arrested by US Marshals in 2015 after several years of searching at a West Palm Beach, Florida hotel, together with his fellow fugitive Alison Louise Antekeier.
In November 2018 Thompson agreed to surrender 500 gold coins; but then claims he doesn't have access to the missing coins.
On 28 November 2018 a jury awarded Investors 19.4 million in compensatory damages-3.2 Million to the Dispatch Printing Company [which had put up 1 million of 22 million invested] and 16.2 million to the court appointed receiver of the other investors.Thompson's case was featured in a January 2018 episode of Swindled, a podcast about white-collar crime.