‘SharkFest' researcher sentenced in Florida for a $453,000 scheme
Christine Bedore, 45, a former biology professor featured on National Geographic's 'SharkFest,' pleaded no contest Tuesday in a Manatee County courtroom to felony charges of scheming to defraud and fraudulent use of personal identification, according to court records. Investigators say she spent five years siphoning money from the American Elasmobranch Society, a shark research nonprofit with a Bradenton mailing address.
Judge Matt Whyte sentenced Bedore to three years in prison, followed by 27 years of probation. She must also pay $452,953 in restitution, including $20,000 paid to the organization in court on Tuesday, court records show.
Police say Bedore had served as the nonprofit's treasurer since 2018 and used its accounts to cover personal expenses such as medical procedures, a vehicle, pet insurance, subscription services, travel and entertainment.
An arrest report details several of those transactions, including an $8,000 down payment on a used Jeep, nearly $13,000 for oral surgery and more than $38,000 in Amazon purchases. Investigators say the stolen funds were intended to support research on sharks and rays.
Financial documents also show Bedore used the nonprofit's money to buy lab specimens and equipment for her academic work at Georgia Southern University, where she was employed at the time.
Shark researcher convicted in Bradenton
Bedore was previously featured on National Geographic as part of the 2022 series When Sharks Attack 360, according to a Facebook post by Georgia Southern University's Biology Department.
Several members of the American Elasmobranch Society, including student researchers, attended Tuesday's hearing, according to a news release. In a statement provided to police, the organization said it was ready to move forward after what it described as a financially and emotionally damaging ordeal.
'This will allow us to focus on our efforts to rebuild AES finances and restore the trust and confidence of our community of dedicated shark and ray scientists, especially our young student members who were particularly wronged by the defendant's actions,' the organization said. 'We are hopeful that this judgment represents the start of a good-faith effort by the defendant to accept responsibility and show remorse for her actions and work towards rebuilding her life.'
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