Two Individuals Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay More Than $570,000 in Restitution for Stealing a Gold Bar

Richard Steven Johnson, 41, of Rio Linda, California, and Jarred Alexander Goldman, 32, of Palm Beach Gardens, were sentenced yesterday, after being convicted of conspiring to steal and stealing a 17th century gold bar on or about August 18, 2010, from the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum in Key West.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida, Robert F. Lasky, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Donald J. Lee, Jr., Chief, Key West Police Department, made the announcement.

Johnson pled guilty to his role in the offense and was sentenced to 63 months in prison.  Goldman was convicted at trial and was sentenced to 40 months in prison.  In addition, United States District Judge Jose E. Martinez ordered Johnson and Goldman to pay $570,195.43 in restitution to the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum.

The facts proven at Goldman’s trial and at the defendants’ sentencing hearings established that both men drove to Key West from West Palm Beach on August 18, 2010, and entered the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum.  Goldman then stood guard as a lookout to enable Johnson to steal the gold bar.  Johnson then removed the gold bar from its display case at the museum and both defendants then drove back to West Palm Beach.  Johnson then cut up the gold bar and sold it off, piece-by-piece.  Law enforcement was only able to recover a single remaining piece, comprising approximately 3% of the total gold bar.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Key West Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Monique Botero.