Four individuals are now facing federal felony charges for their alleged involvement in the illegal purchase and sale of dinosaur bones worth over $1 million. The bones were said to have been "illegally removed" from Utah land. The accused individuals have been identified as Vint Wade, 65; Donna Wade, 67; Steven Willing, 67; and Jordan Willing, 40. They are accused of violating the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) through a series of offenses that took place starting in March 2018.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the accused individuals allegedly sold the stolen dinosaur bones at gem and mineral shows to national vendors. It is also alleged that they caused over $3 million worth of damages to the bones. The accused individuals made their initial court appearance for the indictment in Salt Lake City.
These illegal activities have serious consequences, as they affect not only the scientific community but also the public. A paleontologist interviewed by ABC 4 stated that fossils found on public land belong to everyone. When individuals try to profit from these fossils, they essentially steal from all of us. He also encouraged people who come across dinosaur bones to take a picture and report it, rather than attempting to sell or remove them.
The Department of Justice has charged the four individuals with a 13-count indictment. Federal charges like these highlight the severity and importance of protecting natural resources such as dinosaur bones. The penalties for violating the PRPA can include fines, imprisonment, and the forfeiture of any illegally obtained fossils.
Source: Youtube
