A treasure hunter who illegally excavated in Yellowstone National Park while searching for a hidden chest was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday, officials said.
Roderick Dow Crathron did not find the Forest Fan treasure, named after a New Mexico art merchant who hid a chest that left a rumor worth millions a decade ago and links to his whereabouts in a poem.
The 4-year-old Utah man damaged the Fort Yellowstone cemetery, including the historic Fort Tomb, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Wyoming District said.
Crathorne was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of house arrest and itution to pay 31,566 compensation, the office said.
He pleaded guilty in January to excavation or trafficking of archaeological resources and to injury or degradation of United States property.
Through his attorney, Crathorne apologized to the National Parks Service and the people of the United States. He will surrender in May to begin his sentence
“For the National Park Service, the people of the United States and my family, I’m really sorry. I was probably inspired by the thrill of finding a treasure, and my passion clouded my judgment,” Crathorne said in a statement.
“After my time in prison, I intend to establish a full re-itution. I can only hope that my case will remind people that we must respect national parks and the laws enacted to protect them.”
The search for Forest Fan treasures captivated thousands. Fan hid a chest of gold and jewels between 2009 and 2010 and left the researchers nine keys in a poem in his book “The Thrill the F Chase”.
The treasure was found in Wyoming in June, but the person who found it, identified as a medical student in Michigan, could not say exactly where it was. Fan died in September.
Crathorne was excavated in the Fort Yellowstone National Historic Landmark Cemetery between October 2019 and May 24, 2020, according to one indictment.
U.S. The attorney’s office fee said Rangers found 17 excavation sites, including damage to the historic tomb.
“There is no place in the national park for greedy adult treasure hunters,” Bob Murray, acting U.S. attorney for Wyoming, said in a statement. “Mr. Crathorn’s harmful actions, regardless of cause or purpose, can destroy valuable archaeological resources that cannot be undone.”
Fort Yellowstone was built in the park after the National Park was established by Congress in 1872 and the army was sent on the following hunting, souvenir and other harmful tasks.
Stayed in Army Park until 1918 when assigned to National Park Service duties, established by Congress two years ago.
At least 54 people, mostly civilians who worked for the families of Army or military personnel, were buried in that cemetery between 1888 and 1916.
Sarah Davis, chief ranger at Yellowstone National Park, called the violation “extremely vague” and said Crathorn’s sentence “sends a clear message that such crimes will be committed aggressively and will be prosecuted.”
Many people died while searching for Forest Fan’s treasure before it was found. In 2017, the head of the New Mexico State Police discouraged people from hunting down, citing the dangers involved.
