4 Americans Steal $1 Million Worth Of Dinosaur Bones, Sell It To China

Four Americans have been charged with selling $1 million worth of dinosaur bones to China.

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What happened?

According to a report from NBC News, four individuals in the United States are facing charges for buying and subsequently selling "paleontological resources" valued at over $1 million, which includes dinosaur bones that were sent to China.

Where and when?

They are accused of illegally purchasing, transporting and exporting dinosaur bones from federal land in southeastern Utah between March 2018 and March 2023.

Who are they?

According to an indictment shared by the United States Attorney¡¯s Office, District of Utah, Jordan Willing, 40, from Ashland, Oregon, Steven Willing, 67, from Los Angeles, and Vint Wade, 65, and Donna Wade, 67, from Moab, Utah, are accused of violating the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA).

Why is it so crucial?

The defendants are being charged with multiple felony charges against the United States, including "concealing and retaining stolen property," per the release. In addition to selling $1 million in paleontological resources, the indictment alleges the defendants' actions caused more than $3 million in damages.

¡°The defendants illegally conspired by knowingly concealing and retaining stolen property of the United States,¡± the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah¡¯s press release read.

"So although dinosaur bones and all of the paleontological resources have a value on some markets, the true loss of removing these items from public lands cannot be monetarily measured. It is invaluable," U.S. District Attorney Trina Higgins said in a statement as per KSL.com.

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How did they do it?

¡°As charged, in a typical execution of the conspiracy, the Wades purchased paleontological resources removed from federal land by paying cash and checks to known and unknown unindicted individuals,¡± as per the press release.

The release added that the Wades then allegedly collected paleontological resources to sell to national vendors at gem and mineral shows. Meanwhile, they allegedly sold the illegally obtained paleontological resources to the Willings, who then exported the dinosaur bones to China through their company, JMW Sales, per the U.S. Attorney¡¯s Office.

This was allegedly done ¡°by mislabeling the dinosaur bones and deflating their value to avoid detection by federal agents,¡± the release explained.

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