(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

MIAMI — Two Palm Beach County shark divers convicted of theft for freeing 19 sharks and a giant grouper from a fisherman's longline several miles from shore have been pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Pardons for Tanner Mansell of Jupiter and John Moore Jr. of West Palm Beach were signed Wednesday. They had been convicted in 2022 of theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction.

The two men avoided prison time , but they were ordered to pay $3,343.72 in restitution, and the felony convictions prevented them from voting in Florida, owning firearms and traveling freely outside the U.S.

"We never stopped fighting, and justice has finally prevailed," Moore's attorney, Marc Seitles, said in a statement. "We are thrilled the White House

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