Criminal – "The Longline" (April 3, 2026)

Host: Phoebe Judge
Podcast: Vox Media Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of Criminal explores the story of John Moore and Tanner Mansell, two shark diving guides in Florida who stumbled across a mysterious long fishing line offshore, entangling and threatening numerous sharks. Believing they were intervening in an illegal poaching operation, they freed the animals and alerted authorities—only to later find themselves prosecuted for theft of commercial fishing gear. The episode delves into the conflicting interests between conservation and fishing, the complexities of fishing regulations, and the profound personal consequences for individuals who try to “do the right thing.” Ultimately, the story culminates in a rare presidential pardon and hard-earned exoneration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. First Encounter with the Longline

• The Discovery (03:24 – 06:23)
  • John and Tanner, while running a shark diving tour off Jupiter, Florida, come across a suspicious, makeshift fishing line.
  • At first, they think it might be trash or a marker left by a diver, but soon realize it is a “longline” entangling numerous sharks, including tiger, nurse, lemon, and hammerhead sharks.
• Initial Reaction & Rescue (06:23 – 10:53)
  • Both men, along with their passengers, begin freeing sharks from the line and collecting the longline to prevent further harm to sea life or ocean pollution.
  • Tanner: “That's how a hammerhead shark will die, is you stop them from moving in the water.” (08:24)
  • Atmosphere of urgency and excitement as they assume they are preventing a crime and saving wildlife.
• Shocking Details (05:34 – 06:37)
  • John is struck by how amateurish and unregulated the line looks: “It had little pink and purple weights from Walmart... not like your regular long line setup... something very illegal and subversive going on.” (06:37)

2. Escalating Consequences

• Contacting Authorities (08:34 – 12:42)
  • As they work, they contact NOAA and Florida Fish and Wildlife, who seem as baffled as they are—no one claims responsibility, nor tells them to stop.
  • The event is widely discussed and goes viral after a local fishing blogger shares photos.
• Rumors and Legal Concerns (12:42 – 13:31)
  • Online chatter accuses John and Tanner of tampering with a permitted line, but the guides are initially confident they have done nothing wrong.

3. Realization and Legal Backlash

• Discovery that the Longline Was Legal (15:28 – 16:40)
  • The day after, the tone shifts as authorities inform them the line was actually legal, covered by a rare federal permit: “So this is the most rare permitted line in the U.S. Only up to 5, I think, are given out per year.” (16:40)
• Community Threats and Investigation (17:16 – 19:41)
  • The fishing community, already antagonistic toward sharks and those perceived as interfering, now targets John and Tanner—threats, intimidation, and open hostility escalate.
• Coming Under Investigation (18:08 – 19:41)
  • Both are threatened with prosecution for theft; both refuse to cooperate without lawyers.

4. Arrest, Charges, and Trial

• Actual Arrest and Charged as Felons (20:37 – 22:15)
  • Years later, both men are arrested and charged with a federal felony for theft of commercial fishing gear.
  • They refuse to plead guilty, insisting they acted in good faith.
  • “We were like, we're not going to do that, because we didn't do anything wrong here.” – Tanner (21:43)
• Trial & Courtroom Drama (23:09 – 26:51)
  • Prosecutors claim John and Tanner destroyed property for personal gain; officers testify they advised not to touch the line, but the guides dispute this.
  • The trial drags, with deadlocked jurors and emotional tension.
  • “Some of the jurors were crying. And that's when I knew... they're gonna find us guilty.” – Tanner (26:20)

5. Sentencing and Aftermath

• Sentencing (28:01 – 28:56)
  • Though prosecutors sought years in prison and heavy fines, both are ultimately sentenced to one year probation, community service, and restitution.
  • “The sentence itself was really nothing. But... with a felony, life changes.” – John (28:56)
• Personal and Professional Fallout (28:56 – 34:31)
  • Both describe the life-altering impact of a felony conviction—loss of freedoms, employment barriers, and emotional trauma.
  • “I always thought, if you do the right thing, then... the universe takes care of you... and this was not the case.” – John (33:36)
  • Tanner describes lasting anxiety: “I immediately started feeling I was gonna have a panic attack... it took me like a good 5, 10 minutes to like collect my thoughts.” (34:31)

6. Appeal, Pardon, and Exoneration

• Unsatisfying Appeals Process (29:48 – 31:09)
  • The judges uphold the conviction despite strong words from one: “They are the only felons I have ever encountered... who called law enforcement to report what they were seeing and what actions they were taking in real time.” (30:10)
• A Presidential Pardon (31:09 – 32:44)
  • In May 2025, both are unexpectedly pardoned by the President.
  • “He said, you were just pardoned by the President of the United States. Congratulations. And I just broke down.” – Tanner (31:36)
  • Their records are ultimately expunged by the original judge after the pardon.
  • Both continue to work in ocean conservation, though changed by the ordeal.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On discovering the longline:
  “We realized we found something very odd out here.” – John (05:30)

• On shark deaths and fishing community hostility:
  “We regularly see gunshot wounds to sharks... you see sharks on the daily with bullet holes in their head.” – John (17:16)

• On realizing their actions might have been a crime:
  “If we were gonna commit a crime out there, like, I wouldn't be calling the police while I was doing it.” – John (19:02)

• During the trial:
  “The prosecution argued that we intentionally sought out to destroy this fisherman’s property because sharks are worth more to us alive than dead. So we stole... Essentially, they said we stole the sharks from them.” – Tanner (23:09)

• After the guilty verdict:
  “Some of the jurors were crying. And that’s when I knew. I was like, oh, yeah, they’re gonna find us guilty.” – Tanner (26:20)

• From the appellate dissent:
  “They are the only felons I have ever encountered in 18 years on the bench and three years as a federal prosecutor who called law enforcement to report what they were seeing and what actions they were taking in real time.” (30:10)

• Upon receiving the presidential pardon:
  “You were just pardoned by the President of the United States. Congratulations. And I just broke down.” – Tanner (31:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Accidentally discovering the longline: 03:24 – 06:23
• Rescuing and freeing the sharks: 06:23 – 10:53
• Contacting NOAA & Fish and Wildlife: 08:34 – 09:50
• Finding out the longline was legal: 15:28 – 16:40
• Hostility from the fishing community: 17:16 – 19:41
• Arrest and charges: 20:37 – 22:15
• Trial and jury deliberations: 23:09 – 26:51
• Sentencing: 28:01 – 28:56
• Appellate process and dissent: 29:48 – 31:09
• Presidential pardon: 31:09 – 32:44
• Personal aftermath / loss of optimism: 33:36 – 34:31

Tone and Language

The tone throughout the episode is candid, emotional, and sometimes incredulous, with both John and Tanner expressing a mix of exasperation, sadness, and hard-won perspective. Their narration remains accessible and colloquial, grounded in first-hand accounts and strong feelings of injustice.

Conclusion

"The Longline" exposes the murky waters between environmental stewardship, legal regulation, and commercial interests—showing how fundamentally well-meaning action can become criminalized. John and Tanner’s story is at once a cautionary tale and an exploration of the personal costs of caring enough to intervene for animals—and what happens when “doing the right thing” leads you into the crosshairs of the law.