Treasure Hunters Sue the FBI For Records on their $55 Million Gold Dig

As a father and son treasure hunting company, Finders Keepers usually find their share of interesting objects. They thought they may have found lost Civil War era gold buried in the woods of Pennsylvania, so they decided to do a bit more digging. Now they are suing the Department of Justice for not turning over FBI documents regarding the excavation. 

According to folklore, the gold in question was lost or stolen during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. Dennis and Kem Parada (the father and son of Finders Keepers) spent years trying to locate the treasure which was a shipment of Union gold which somehow disappeared on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. According to expert sources, the gold could be worth $55 million today. 

The team thought they were on to something when their instruments detected a large metallic mass in the woods of Philadelphia back in 2018. They contacted the FBI regarding their findings. 

The organization brought in a contractor with more sophisticated equipment. According to an FBI affidavit, the contractor detected a mass that weighed up to nine tons and had the density of gold.  The affidavit was left unsealed at the request of news organizations. 

Although the Paradas accompanied the FBI on their dig, which took place about 135 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, they were ordered to stay in their car. The Paradas followed up trying to obtain information but were given conflicting stories every time. 

At first, they heard the dig came up with nothing. Other times the FBI claimed there were no files available. 

After the Justice Department ordered a more thorough review, the FBI stated the files were not available for public disclosure. Now that the Paradas have filed an appeal, they are admitting that they have over 2,400 pages of records and 17 video files available, but that it would take years for them to turn over that information. 

The FBI learned of the gold’s existence only after the owners of Finders Keepers directed the government to the location of the buried treasure, and the technology strongly (suggested) that, buried at the site, was multiple tons of gold,” says Paradas’ attorney Anne Weisman. 

“Following the dig, which the owners of Finders Keepers were barred from observing, the FBI insisted it had found nothing, contrary to all the evidence. At the same time, the FBI has refused to provide Finders Keepers with any documents in response to its Freedom of Information Act request,” Weisman goes on to say. 

Finders Keepers is asking for expedited processing which can be granted in cases where there is widespread media interest when it comes to protecting a government agency’s integrity. However, the Justice Department denied the request and has not yet assigned a request to a staffer for processing. 

The Paradas have filed a federal lawsuit against the Justice Department regarding their failure to act. Their lawyer has noted that the FBI dragged its feet on the Finders Keepers’ Freedom of Information Act request for their records. 

“There’s been a pattern of behavior by the FBI that’s been very troubling,” Weisman says. She also wonders if the organization has been acting “in good faith”. 

“From the outset, it seems as if the FBI is doing everything it can to avoid answering the question of whether they actually found gold.”

Both the FBI and Department of Justice are refusing to comment on the lawsuit. 

There is also the question of whether the gold actually exists. According to the press, the Elk County Historical Society says they believe the gold is just an old wives’ tale. A member of the historical society has stated that no historical evidence shows gold being buried in the area. 

Will the FBI ever reveal what information they are holding on to? Will the Paradas ever find out if there truly is gold in them thar hills? Tune in to find out!

The father and son treasure hunting company, Finders Keepers, may have found lost Civil War era gold buried in the woods of Pennsylvania.

Now they are suing the Department of Justice for not turning over FBI documents regarding the excavation. 

The gold in question was lost or stolen during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.

Dennis and Kem Parada (the father and son of Finders Keepers) spent years trying to locate the treasure, which was a shipment of Union gold which somehow disappeared on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. 

According to expert sources, the gold could be worth $55 million today. 

Their instruments detected a large metallic mass in the woods of Philadelphia back in 2018, and they contacted the FBI regarding their findings. 

You can also read: Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years to Life for Rape

The organization brought in a contractor with more sophisticated equipment.

 According to an FBI affidavit, the contractor detected a mass that weighed up to nine tons and had the density of gold. 

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