Research scientist Tommy Thompson has been held in contempt of court since Dec. 15, 2015, for that refusal. He is also incurring a daily fine of $1,000.

Thompson refused several times, and on Dec. 15, 2015, Marbley found Thompson in contempt of court and ordered him to stay in jail - and pay a $1,000 daily fine - until he responds.

Thomas "Tommy" Thompson, now 72, has been held in federal prison since 2015 after refusing to tell a judge — or his lawyers — where he stashed a trove of gold coins he recovered from a shipwreck.

Thompson has been held in contempt of court since December 15, 2015, and also incurred a daily fine of $1,000. In his ruling, Marbley assessed Thompson’s total civil contempt fine at $3,335,000.

Tommy Thompson, 69, was held in contempt of court since December 15, 2015, for refusing to share the whereabouts of the missing gold coins valued at roughly $2.5 million.

A former deep-sea treasure hunter is about to mark his fifth year in jail for refusing to disclose the whereabouts of 500 missing coins made from gold found in an historic shipwreck. Research ...

In this November 1989 file photo, Tommy Thompson holds a $50 pioneer gold piece retrieved earlier in 1989 from the wreck of the gold ship SS Central America.

Thompson has been held in contempt of court since 15 December, 2015, and also incurred a daily fine of $1,000. In his ruling, Marbley assessed Thompson’s total civil contempt fine at $3,335,000.

Thomas "Tommy" Thompson, now 72, has been held in federal prison since 2015 after refusing to tell a judge — or his lawyers — where he stashed a trove of gold coins he recovered from a shipwreck.