A second man involved in theft of a fossilized woolly mammoth tusk from the Campbell Creek Science Center, a federal Bureau of Land Management museum in Anchorage, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
Gary Lynn Boyd, 41, of Wasilla, was sentenced on May 29 by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason. Boyd and Martin Thornley Elze, both pleaded guilty to removing the paleontological tusk, which they cut into pieces and sold for profit. Court documents said that in its original condition that the tusk was worth approximately $7,000 to $9,000.
After completing his sentence, Boyd will be on supervised release for three years. As a condition of release, Boyd will be banned from visiting national parks, national forests or BLM land without permission of his probation officer. Boyd was also ordered to pay $8,385.82 in restitution to the science center.
The tusk had been on display at the Campbell Creek Science Center for some 20 years.
Court documents showed that on March 7, 2018 Boyd and Elze visited the center and asked specific questions about the weight and authenticity of the tusk then returned the next night and used a rock to break a window to unlawfully open a door. A museum video surveillance system caught the two men carrying the tusk away from the building.
Elze was sentenced in April to 33 months in federal prison. During his sentencing hearing, the court heard that Boyd was known as “Booster Gary.” A “booster” is someone who makes a living stealing and selling stolen goods. According to court records, Boyd even offered his “boosting” services on social media.
