A Utah man is going to prison for digging up the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery in search of treasure/NPS

A Utah man hoping his search for buried treasure in Yellowstone National Park would make him rich for life instead will wind up in prison with a $31,566 bill. 

Rodrick Dow Craythorn, 52, of Syracuse, Utah, dug deep beneath the surface of the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery late in 2019 and again early in 2020 in his search for the treasure a New Mexico art dealer had left somewhere in the Rockies. Not only did Craythorn come up empty, but Chief District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahlon sentenced him to six months in jail and another six months of home detention. Plus, he will have to make $31,566 in restitution for "excavating and damaging archaeological resources" in the cemetery, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Investigators say the excavations damaged archaeological resources in the cemetery/NPS

Rangers and special agents of the National Park Service discovered 17 sites of illegal excavation, including damage to an historic grave. The cemetery is a multicomponent archaeological site with historical human burials. The cemetery is included in the National Register of Historic Places and, more specifically, was designated on July 31, 2003, as a National Historic Landmark.

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 as the nation’s first national park, and the U.S. Army was dispatched to the park in 1886 to protect its natural features and wildlife. Originally established as Camp Sheridan in 1891, it evolved into Fort Yellowstone and served as the Army headquarters until their departure in 1918. The Army began internments in the cemetery in 1888. At least 54 people were buried in the cemetery between 1888 and 1916, most of them civilian employees of the Army and relatives of military personnel.

A Santa Fe, New Mexico, art dealer named Forrest Fenn buried a chest of gold, silver, and gems in the western United States and then left a clue-filled poem to solve its location.

The investigation into this matter revealed that Craythorn had done extensive research on the Forest Fenn treasure and documented his efforts to family and friends. Craythorn did not find the treasure during his criminal adventure. It was found later in Wyoming by another person.

“Yellowstone is one of the country’s most popular national parks and we must do everything in our power to investigate and prosecute those who damage and destroy its natural and cultural resources," said Bob Murray, the acting U.S. Attorney whose office handled the case. "A national park is no place to stage an adult treasure hunt motivated by greed. The harmful actions of Mr. Craythorn, no matter the reason or intent, destroyed valuable archaeological resources that cannot be undone."

“This is the most significant investigation of damage to archaeological resources in Yellowstone National Park’s recent history,” said Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly. “I want to sincerely thank law enforcement officers, special agents, archaeological staff, the Department of Justice District of Wyoming and the U.S. District Court Judge for their outstanding work on this complex case.”

“This is an example of a highly egregious resource violation stemming from the Forrest Fenn treasure hunt saga,” added Yellowstone Chief Ranger Sarah Davis. “Today’s action by the DOJ sends a clear message that these types of transgressions will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”