Fugitive Boca Raton Treasure Hunter Has Sentencing Date Set

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (CBSMiami/AP) — After spending years on the run, a deep-sea treasure hunter who pleaded guilty to contempt of court had a date for sentencing set by a judge in Ohio.

Tommy Thompson went missing three years ago amid demands he appear in court to account for missing gold coins and other assets taken after the discovery of a historic shipwreck in 1988. He and his longtime companion were apprehended in January at a hotel where he was living near Boca Raton, Florida.

Judge Algenon Marbley set a Dec. 15 sentencing date for the 63-year-old Thompson on Tuesday, the same day the judge got an update from lawyers on both sides.

Thompson faces two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Thompson must still answer questions about the location of the 500 coins.

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