American arrested after being suspected of looting sunken Spanish Galleon in BahamasFeb. 26, 2011 /
www.bahamaspress.comWalker’s Cay, Bahamas — Bahamas Press is following at this hour the arrest of an American who resides in Freeport. We can tell you guest was arrested in the Walker’s Cay area in the Northern Bahamas a few days ago.
Alex Gardiner we are told by investigators was taken into custody for treasure hunting.
Early investigations tell us the accused had come across sunken treasures discovered at the bottom of the sea in a Spanish galleon in the area. Reports allege the American began salvaging and looting the wreck; shipping the items into foreign territory. We are told there was no formal notice made to the Government of the Bahamas for the excavations nor was there any license granted for such.
No communication of his arrest or the discovery of the vessels has been announced by the Ingraham government, but meetings with the King of Spain we believe could soon find new happiness around the table.
The vessels we are told by historians when sunk was been laden with gold and artifacts with a value into the Billions if traded on the world market today. (END..)
More info from a source in the Bahamas close to Minister Pratt:The arrest suspect "Alex Gardiner" and "Alan Gardner" are one and the same person the later having legally altered his name to "Alexander Gardiner" after moving to the Bahamas following SEC problems in US 12 years ago in a case involving allegations of insider stock trading resulting in alledged swindled millions from investors. A subsequent 75 million dollar Federal Court Judgement levied against Mr. Gardner still remains uncollected and the suspect still faces legal problems over that case and with swindled investors should he ever return to the US. The suspect's waterfront Palm Beach mansion was seized years ago and he was said to have fled the US in the middle of the night by boat to the Bahamas taking millions with him just ahead of the court decisions. Interestingly, The Hillary Clinton made infamous Rose Law Firm of Arkansas, as a representative of legal work performed on behalf of the suspect in carrying out his swindles, also had some defensive role in the SEC case.
Currently, according to same source in Bahamas, as of yesterday the suspect was being held without bail in a jail at Nassau and his vessel, Ella Warley III---now registered as a Bahamian vessel, three aircraft and a home in Freeport have been seized as evidence in a case now said to involve Interpol, US Customs and Bahamian officials. Individuals both in the Bahamas and the US are said to be under investigation to trace artifacts known to have been smuggled out of the country and sold. The suspect's Banking, Internet and phone records have also been seized.
Source said that the suspect had been under surveillance for over a year as the case was being built and authorities watched and waited until he was again found in the act of removing more items from the wreck until springing a capture. According to same source: Valuable pieces of Spanish jewelry and gems were subsequently found on the boat and were confiscated as evidence by agents on jet skis acting as tourists who suddenly raced up and boarded the vessel with drawn weapons taking the suspect by complete surprise before he could react and toss anything.
More artifacts, coins and jewelry from the 1656 Maravillas wreck were seized from the Freeport house as evidence.
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