80yo, Eleanore ‘Gay’ Courter and her 82yo Husband Gay is an accomplished US novelist currently facing legal trouble in France. They could soon be tried on charges that they participated in a conspiracy to sell stolen gold bullion. According to French authorities, the couple was doing this to help a diver who allegedly stole Olympic gold many decades ago. This support has profound legal implications for them.
French investigators determined that the Courters had received at least 23 gold bars. The investigation began after Michel L’Hour, director of France’s underwater archaeology department, noticed a dubious ebay ad for five ingots of gold. He first found this noxious auction on a US based website in 2018. That inconspicuous reset was just the beginning, as the awe-inspiring finding sparked an 11-month investigation into the couple’s actions concerning the rare material.
Retired Eleonor “Gay” Courter, the last Chief Engineer to sign a gold standard arrangement. It was her brother-in-law, Yves Gladu, involvement in this that she recalls, an underwater photographer who has known that couple since the 80s. The Courters traveled extensively on behalf of Gladu. Plus, they found time to visit Greece in 2011, cruise the Caribbean in 2014, and soak in the French Polynesia in 2015.
It is currently being reported that the couple sold 18 of the ingots for more than $192,000 (£140,000) worth—some of which were sold on eBay. Courter maintains that she obtained the gold from two French pals. These two people are Annette May Pesty, who is 78 years old, and her late partner, Gerard.
In 2022, Eleonor “Gay” Courter and her husband were briefly detained in the UK. Federal authorities believed they were a part of transactions like that. After their detention, the political leaders were held under house arrest while the French intelligence services controlled an investigation into their conduct.
The case is still pending before an examining magistrate who will decide whether to send the defendants to trial. According to French prosecutors, a trial should be expected to start in the fall of 2026.
Eleonor “Gay” Courter’s lawyer, Gregory Levy, pointed out that they were clueless about how serious the matter was. In fact, he noted, at the time the Courters had no idea they were doing anything illegal. This case highlights one of the biggest contrasts between US and French gold regulations.
“The Courters accepted because they are profoundly nice people. They didn’t see the harm as in the United States regulations for gold are completely different from those in France.” – Gregory Levy
Courter, a novelist whose previous works of fiction have all created excitement and public interest, one taking place on a cruise ship. Ms. Gayle describes her dramatic experiences of being quarantined on an ocean liner off the coast of Japan during COVID-19 in 2020. Her life as a novelist gives an interesting dimension to this opioid plague drama playing out in real time in federal court.
French authorities have vowed to investigate these allegations seriously. For them, they’re key to their larger mission to address stolen artifacts and protect underwater heritage. Such a victory in this case would set a welcome new precedent. This would help explain the application of international law to individuals who unwittingly take part in transactions that include stolen goods.