One of the two men suspected of stealing a centuries-old gold bar from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in August 2010 pleaded not guilty on Friday at the Key West federal courthouse on Simonton Street.
Richard Steven Johnson, 41, of Rio Linda, California made his first appearance in federal court last week in Key West before Federal Magistrate Laurana S. Snow. He remains in custody tonight following his arrest by the FBI in California on Jan 31, 2018. Today, Johnson pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
There is no information on the current whereabouts of the stolen gold bar.
Johnson and Jarred Alexander Goldman, 32, of Palm Beach Gardens, are charged with conspiring to steal and stealing a 17th century gold bar on or about August 18, 2010, from the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum in Key West.
The defendants are accused of driving to Key West from West Palm Beach on or about August 18, 2010, and entering the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum. It is alleged that Goldman then stood guard as a lookout to enable Johnson to steal the gold bar. Johnson then allegedly removed the gold bar from its display case at the museum and both defendants then drove back to West Palm Beach. The gold bar has not been recovered.
