LA Man Accused Of Helping To Steal Dinosaur Bones Worth Over $1M
In a paleontological scandal that could rival the plot of a Hollywood thriller, four people, including a Los Angeles man, have been accused of illegally trafficking over a million dollars' worth of dinosaur bones, unraveling the mysteries of prehistoric life hidden within the rugged landscapes of Utah. A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted the group for their alleged involvement in purchasing and selling more than $1 million worth of paleontological resources, which included 150,000 pounds of dinosaur bones illegally taken from federal and state lands in southeastern Utah. The U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Utah charged Vint Wade, 65; Donna Wade, 67, from Moab, Utah; Steven Willing, 67, from Los Angeles; and Jordan Willing, 40, from Ashland, Oregon, with multiple felony offenses under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA). From March 2018 to at least March 2023, the defendants allegedly engaged in the illicit purchase, transportation, and export of dinosaur bones from federal lands. They are also accused of conspiring to conceal and retain stolen U.S. property knowingly.
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