Stolen gold coins recovered from 18th century Spanish shipwreck
This discovery represents an important milestone in the long-term investigation into the theft and trafficking of these historical artifacts. Artifacts recovered from these shipwrecks are protected by state and federal laws. According to the FWC, 51 of these coins were correctly reported to authorities, but the other 50 were not declared. However, 13 stolen gold coins have yet to be located. In 2015, members of the Schmitt family, hired as salvage operators by the company 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC, found an impressive treasure of 101 gold coins from the shipwrecks. The Fleet of 1715 comprises approximately a dozen Spanish treasure ships that were wrecked more than 300 years ago during a hurricane off the coast of Florida. With search warrants in hand, investigators recovered coins from homes, safe deposit boxes and five more from an auctioneer in Florida, who would have inadvertently acquired the coins through Schmitt. “Advanced digital forensic technology identified metadata and geolocation data that linked Eric Schmitt to a photograph of the stolen coins taken at the Schmitt family condominium in Fort Pierce,” the FWC explained. The investigation linked these crimes to Eric Schmitt, a member of the family involved. Investigation and recovery
This case highlights the importance of protecting historical treasures and preserving their cultural value for future generations. Thirty-seven gold coins, valued at more than one million US dollars and stolen from the shipwrecks of the 1715 Fleet off Florida's Treasure Coast, have been recovered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Additionally, the FWC has reaffirmed its commitment to locating the remaining 13 coins and bringing to justice those who participated in their illegal sale. It was also discovered that in 2016, Schmitt placed three of the stolen coins at the bottom of the ocean to be "discovered" by new investors of 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels. Schmitt has been charged in state court with selling stolen property. Restitution and justice