Four individuals from different parts of the United States are now facing charges in connection with the sale of dinosaur bones to China worth a staggering $1 million. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah, has shared an indictment that names the accused parties as Jordan Willing, 40, from Ashland, Oregon, Steven Willing, 67, from Los Angeles, and Vint Wade, 65, and Donna Wade, 67, from Moab, Utah. They are alleged to have violated the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) by unlawfully buying, transporting, and exporting dinosaur bones from federal land in southeastern Utah between March 2018 and March 2023.
These defendants now face multiple felony charges against the United States, including "concealing and retaining stolen property." Beyond the sale of $1 million worth of paleontological resources, the indictment asserts that their actions have resulted in over $3 million in damages.
As per the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah’s press release, the defendants are accused of an illegal conspiracy involving the knowing concealment and retention of stolen U.S. property. In one aspect of this conspiracy, the Wades purchased paleontological resources taken from federal land by providing cash and checks to both known and unknown individuals who haven't been indicted.
The release goes on to explain that the Wades then supposedly amassed paleontological resources for sale to national vendors at gem and mineral shows. Simultaneously, they allegedly sold the illegally obtained paleontological resources to the Willings, who, through their company, JMW Sales, exported the dinosaur bones to China. The release notes that this was carried out by mislabeling the dinosaur bones and deflating their value to avoid detection by federal agents.
The indictment also specifies that the $3 million in damages encompassed restoration and repair expenses, the commercial and scientific value of the resources. U.S. District Attorney Trina Higgins emphasized, "The scientific value was lost when they were removed, such as knowing the location they are at, what other bones were near, the type of soil they were found in. 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."
According to the Attorney Office's statement, the defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearance on October 19. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Salt Lake City Field Office is collaborating with the Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office, along with the Grand County and San Juan County Sheriff Offices, on this case.
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