Treasure hunter Tommy Thompson to review documents for missing coins clues

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A judge has told a former deep-sea treasure hunter’s attorney to review thousands of pages of documents that might hold clues about the whereabouts of gold coins thought to be worth millions.

Todd Long is at least the fifth lawyer hired by defendant Tommy Thompson since he was apprehended last year after three years on the run.

Thompson has been held in contempt of court since last December, when federal Judge Algenon Marbley in Columbus found he violated a plea deal by refusing to answer questions about the 500 missing coins.

Marbley ordered the review Wednesday. Thompson will also review the documents, which authorities seized from him after his arrest.

The coins were minted from gold taken from the S.S. America, which sank in an 1857 hurricane.