Peter Larson

For other people named Peter Larson, see Peter Larson (disambiguation).
Peter Larson
Larson in 2014
Born
Peter Lars Larson

1952 (age 71–72)
Alma materSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology (BA)
Children3
Criminal information
Criminal statusConvicted
Conviction(s)2 felony counts for United States customs violations involving money declaration and two misdemeanors for the illegal removal of two fossils from Federal government land
Criminal penalty2 years in prison
Imprisoned atFederal Correctional Complex, Florence

Peter Lars Larson (born 1952) is an American fossil dealer who is head of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, which specialises in the excavation and preparation of fossils. He led the team that excavated "Sue", one of the largest and most complete specimens of Tyrannosaurus rex, which was the subject of a legal dispute resulting in its seizure and public auction. In 1996, Larson was convicted of customs violations related to failing to declare money he had brought from overseas, and served 18 months in prison.[1][2]

He has published scientific and popular works on dinosaur paleontology. Larson has been criticized by some paleontologists for his commercial enterprises and support of private collections.[3]

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