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FBI records deepen mystery of dig for Civil War-era gold

by Chloe Baker
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Gold Hunt Controversy

The recent court-ordered release of a comprehensive collection of government documents, including photos, videos, maps, and other materials, pertaining to the FBI’s covert search for Civil War-era gold in Dents Run, Pennsylvania, has intensified suspicions of a cover-up. Dennis Parada, a treasure hunter who had initiated a legal battle to obtain these records, remains steadfast in his determination to uncover the truth surrounding this enigmatic treasure hunt.

The roots of this dispute trace back to the local legend that an 1863 shipment of Union gold mysteriously vanished while en route to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The FBI’s involvement in Dents Run, prompted by advanced testing indicating the possible presence of substantial gold deposits, has long been met with skepticism. Despite the FBI’s claims that the excavation yielded no gold, Parada and his team, armed with the newly disclosed government records, firmly assert otherwise. They accuse the FBI of manipulating crucial evidence and withholding documents to conceal the recovery of a historically valuable gold cache, a charge the FBI vehemently disputes.

This ongoing conflict unfolds within the confines of a federal court, where a presiding judge must decide whether the FBI should reveal its operational plan for the gold dig and disclose other classified records. Furthermore, the judge could compel the FBI to continue searching for additional materials to share with Parada.

In an interview at his modest office, Parada, co-founder of Finders Keepers, expressed his sense of betrayal, stating, “We feel we were double-crossed and lied to.” His pursuit goes beyond solving the mystery; he had hoped to earn a finder’s fee from the potential recovery of gold estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The FBI, refraining from commenting on the gold dig records or the cover-up allegations due to ongoing litigation, acknowledged its involvement in Dents Run publicly only last year. In its statement, the FBI reiterated its stance that no gold was found and unequivocally rejected any contrary claims.

Historical records provide scant evidence of an Army detachment losing a gold shipment in the Pennsylvania wilderness, possibly due to an ambush by Confederate sympathizers. However, this legend has inspired generations of treasure hunters, including Parada and his son. They spent years searching for the elusive gold of Dents Run and ultimately led the FBI to a remote wooded site, guided by their instruments detecting a significant quantity of metal. A geophysical consulting firm brought in by the FBI detected a mass of 7 to 9 tons, suggestive of gold.

With a warrant in hand, an FBI team commenced digging in March 2018, documenting the process with a videographer. An agent from the FBI’s art-crime team, in an interview on the scene, explained the agency’s presence and its belief in the site’s potential value. He emphasized that scientific testing corroborated Parada’s information regarding the gold’s location but fell short of confirming its presence. Only excavation could conclusively resolve the matter.

Parada obtained the video and other FBI records through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in the hopes of shedding light on what transpired at Dents Run five years ago. He suspects that the FBI conducted a clandestine, overnight dig between the first and second days of the court-authorized excavation, found the gold, and removed it. While residents reported hearing nighttime activity and seeing FBI vehicles, the agency denies any overnight excavation.

Parada and consultant Warren Getler focus their scrutiny on several FBI photos and an accompanying photo log, raising questions about the FBI’s official timeline for the gold dig. Key issues revolve around the presence or absence of snow in the images and the timing of a storm that briefly interrupted operations. They contend that the FBI altered the sequence of events to conceal an overnight excavation.

Furthermore, discrepancies in the records include the FBI initially providing low-resolution black-and-white photos, making it challenging to determine when they were taken. The agency only later supplied color versions at the request of the treasure hunters. Additionally, there is a lack of video footage from the second day of the dig, and no visual evidence of a 30-foot-long, 12-foot-deep trench described in the FBI’s hand-drawn map. The treasure hunters argue that such a trench could have only been dug overnight. The FBI’s hired consulting firm produced a report with seemingly missing key pages, and travel and expense invoices of FBI agents were not provided, further obscuring the timeline.

These revelations cast doubt on the FBI’s assertion of finding nothing and raise serious questions about its conduct during the dig and subsequent litigation. The legal motion filed by Finders Keepers seeks access to records, including the FBI’s operational plan, that they claim were wrongfully withheld.

The Justice Department’s recent legal filing did not directly address the treasure hunters’ allegations of a cover-up. Instead, it asserted that the FBI had met its legal obligations regarding record disclosure and requested the case’s closure, leaving the judge to make the final decision.

Parada remains resolute in his quest for answers, stating, “I will stick at this until the end, until I know everything that happened to that gold, how much, where it went to, who has it now. I gotta know.” The mystery of the Civil War-era gold in Dents Run continues to captivate and mystify, as the legal battle rages on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gold Hunt Controversy

Q: What is the background of the FBI’s involvement in the search for Civil War-era gold in Dents Run, Pennsylvania?

A: The FBI’s involvement in Dents Run stems from local lore that suggests an 1863 shipment of Union gold disappeared en route to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The FBI conducted an excavation in Dents Run following advanced testing indicating the possible presence of substantial gold deposits.

Q: What is the main point of contention between Dennis Parada and the FBI?

A: Dennis Parada and his team believe that the FBI is covering up the recovery of a significant gold cache and has manipulated key evidence. The FBI, on the other hand, maintains that the excavation yielded no gold.

Q: What evidence does Parada present to support his claim of a cover-up?

A: Parada and his consultant, Warren Getler, focus on several discrepancies in the FBI’s records, including the presence or absence of snow in photos and the timing of a storm that disrupted operations. They allege that the FBI altered the sequence of events to conceal an overnight excavation.

Q: How did Parada obtain the FBI’s records related to the gold dig?

A: Parada obtained the records through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

Q: What is the potential value of the gold cache, and what motivated Parada’s involvement?

A: The gold cache is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and Parada had hoped to earn a finder’s fee from its potential recovery.

Q: What is the current status of the legal battle between Parada and the FBI?

A: The legal battle is ongoing, with a judge tasked with deciding whether the FBI must disclose its operational plan for the gold dig and other classified records. The judge may also require the FBI to continue searching for additional materials to share with Parada.

Q: How does the FBI respond to Parada’s allegations and the release of government records?

A: The FBI declines to comment on the records or cover-up allegations due to ongoing litigation. The agency acknowledges its presence in Dents Run but reiterates that no gold was found.

Q: What is the historical basis for the legend of the lost gold shipment in Dents Run?

A: There is limited historical evidence to support the legend, which revolves around the possibility that an Army detachment lost the gold shipment, potentially due to an ambush by Confederate sympathizers.

Q: What are the next steps in the legal battle, and how does Parada plan to proceed?

A: The judge overseeing the case has yet to rule. Parada remains determined to uncover the truth and continues to seek answers regarding the gold’s whereabouts and what transpired during the excavation.

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