US Couple Faces Potential Trial in France Over Stolen Shipwreck Gold

In a case that intertwines maritime history and modern law, an 80-year-old American novelist, Eleonor “Gay” Courter, and her husband, Philip Courter, 82, are facing potential prosecution in France for their alleged involvement in the illegal sale of gold bars believed to have been salvaged from the 18th-century shipwreck of the Prince de Conty. French prosecutors have formally requested that the case proceed to court, citing evidence of the couple's participation in the online sale of this bullion, which was plundered decades ago from the ship that sank off the Brittany coast in 1746.

The Prince de Conty was a merchant vessel trading with Asia that sank during a fierce storm in the winter of 1746. The wreck was rediscovered in 1974, lying at a depth of approximately 10 to 15 meters (32 to 49 feet) near Belle-Île-en-Mer. Initial explorations of the site in the mid-1970s led to the looting of valuable artifacts, including gold and fine porcelain. Archaeologists later uncovered evidence of the ship’s cargo, including three gold bars, but official excavations ceased in 1985 after a storm dispersed the remnants of the ship.

The case has garnered significant attention following the 2018 identification of suspicious sales related to the shipwreck. Michel L’Hour, head of France’s underwater archaeology department, alerted U.S. authorities about five gold ingots listed for sale on a U.S. auction house website. These items were seized and returned to France in 2022. Investigators traced the sale back to Gay Courter, who claimed that the gold was given to her by French acquaintances, Annette May Pesty and her late partner Gerard. Pesty had previously mentioned discovering the gold while diving off Cape Verde, a claim that authorities have deemed implausible.

The investigation soon shifted focus to Yves Gladu, a brother-in-law of Pesty and an underwater photographer, who had not been implicated in a previous trial for the ship’s plundering in 1983. Gladu confessed to retrieving a total of 16 gold bars from the wreck over numerous dives between 1976 and 1999, asserting that he sold the gold to a retired military member in Switzerland in 2006. He denied giving any gold to the Courters, even though they had maintained a long-standing friendship with him, having vacationed together multiple times.

In 2022, the U.S. couple was detained in the United Kingdom and placed under house arrest. Investigators have concluded that the Courters were in possession of at least 23 gold bars, having sold 18 of them for over $192,000 (£140,000), with some transactions conducted via eBay. Their lawyer, Gregory Levy, stated that the couple believed they were acting benevolently, emphasizing their lack of awareness of the legal implications involved. "They are profoundly nice people who did not see the harm, as regulations regarding gold differ significantly between the United States and France," Levy explained, asserting that the money from the sales was intended for Gladu.

The prosecutor in Brest has filed a request for the Courters, Gladu, and Pesty to stand trial. A decision by an investigating magistrate on whether to proceed with the trial is anticipated, with prosecutors indicating that a trial could occur in the autumn of 2026. This case raises important questions regarding the legal ownership of recovered shipwreck artifacts and the responsibilities of individuals involved in their sale, as international laws regarding maritime salvage and stolen cultural heritage continue to evolve.

As the case develops, it not only highlights the complex intersection of history, law, and ethics but also reflects broader issues related to maritime archaeology and the preservation of cultural heritage. The potential trial will shed light on the intricacies of legal frameworks governing shipwrecks and the responsibilities of divers and sellers in the management of recovered artifacts.