Mystery charter event

[Amgine]

Charter crew mystery only deepens


The crew of the 47-foot sportfishing charter boat Joe Cool are missing, their clients were found floating in a liferaft in the Florida Straits near Cuba, and the boat was found drifting near Cay Sal Bank. An ocean search is being conducted, trying to find the four missing crew.

The charterers, however, have turned out to be an interesting catch. One is believed to be on the run after heisting $92k from his employer, Wal-Mart of Strawberry, Ark. Who once served in the military at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba.

The four missing crew are: Capt. Jake Branam, 27; his wife Kelley Branam; his half-brother, Scott Campbell, 30; and Samuel Kairy, 27, all of Miami Beach.

One interesting quote in this article:

''We handle crimes on the high seas and there might be the potential for that here, but that's all we can say,'' FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said Monday.

(The FBI is authorised by Title 28 sect 533 US Code, but "high seas" refer to international waters which are governed by international and admiralty law.)

[ssullivan]

I had tried to get across to everyone how bad chartering is. We had this kind of troube 3(!!!) times in our year of chartering. The first were just idiots who smashed up the head and broke things. The second had to be removed by the police - luckily he got crazy IN port instead of at sea. Lastly, we had the grifter (search for "grifter" on the forum to read the story).

Somehow... very unsavory types book charters. The more money they have, the worse they are too! I guess you have to be ripping *somone* off to have a vast pile of money (unless you inherited it).

The grifter showed up with a suitcase full of gold bars he wanted to trade for the boat, but then sold for the cash. These gold bars weren't your typical little investment quality 1 oz'ers either. These were like you see at the federal reserve or in cartoons. YIKES! That should have scared me off.

We got out of that business in a hurry. Having to fear for your life more than once a year in your home just isn't worth it. This is another reason we are now pro-gun (don't start that argument here - it already has a thread) and pro keeping one aboard. Myself... I have a sawed off 12 gauge shotgun for the next life-threatening encounter.

But... since we're moving onto land for a while... I will have to mothball that unit. There are some pretty whacky gun laws in this country. I fear driving to the wrong state with it more than I fear the violent criminals. The new defense? Just run them over.

[GordMay]

FWIW:
Some Typical Gold Bar (Ingot) Dimensions - 1 millimeter = 0.0393700787 inches
400 Ounce: 200 mm Long x 80 mm Wide x 45mm Deep
1 Kilo: 80 x 40 x18
500 Grams: 65 x 32 x14
250 Grams: 55 x 25 x10
100 Grams: 55 x 31 x3
50 Grams: 45 x25 x 2.3
1 Ounce: 42 mm L x 24 mm W x 2 mm D

[ssullivan]

Originally Posted by GordMay

FWIW:
Some Typical Gold Bar (Ingot) Dimensions - 1 millimeter = 0.0393700787 inches
400 Ounce: 200 mm Long x 80 mm Wide x 45mm Deep
1 Kilo: 80 x 40 x18
500 Grams: 65 x 32 x14
250 Grams: 55 x 25 x10
100 Grams: 55 x 31 x3
50 Grams: 45 x25 x 2.3
1 Ounce: 42 mm L x 24 mm W x 2 mm D

According to Gord's info above, and using his .0393 conversion factor, these gold bars were indeed the 400 Ounce variety. He did let me hold one for a second to see how heavy it was. It was probalby a once in a lifetime experience to see that much real gold in one place at one time. At least it wasn't the final lifetime experience.