Sunrise in the San Rafael Swell, March 2, 2024.
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"Four people allegedly stole and sold $1 million worth of dinosaur bones and other fossilized materials from federal land in southeastern Utah, according to a federal grand jury indictment returned on Thursday.
The defendants allegedly purchased, transported and exported 150,000 pounds of paleontological resources between March 2018 and March 2023.
There are two Utahns accused of the crime: Vint Wade, 65, and Donna Wade, 67, who own Wade’s Wood & Rocks in Moab. Steven Willing, 67 from Los Angeles, California, and Jordan Willing, 40 from Ashland, Oregon, were also arrested.
The defendants have been charged with conspiracy and theft of property against the United States, as well as multiple felony charges for violating the federal Paleontological Resources Preservation Act.
The Wades of Moab allegedly bought paleontological resources that were taken from federal land from “known and unknown unindicted individuals,” who allegedly stole the dinosaur bones for the Wades’ own personal use, according to the indictment.
The Wades allegedly collected these stolen fossilized materials in order to sell them at “gem and mineral shows.” They are also accused of selling the illegally removed resources to Steven and Jordan Willing.
The Willings’ company, JMW Sales, then exported dinosaur bones to China, according to the indictment. They allegedly tried to hide the exports from the federal government by mislabeling the dinosaur bones and deflating their value."
Read more: "Four people accused of stealing and selling $1 million worth of dinosaur bones from southern Utah" by Anastasia Hufham.
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Near Moab with clear skies and the low angle of December sun
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••• somehow i still want you more •••
*fresh out the shower hair*
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A petroglyph panel in Southeastern Utah. March 30, 2024.
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A photo of the Past Worlds exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Utah, which includes representations of various dinosaurs found in the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.
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