Unique: Many Americans are facing a minimum of 12 years in prison for inadvertently carrying ammunition or bullets in their luggage Home Trip from Turks and Caicos.
Ryan Watson, a father of two from Oklahoma, and Tyler Weinrich, a father of a one-year-old from Virginia, were both arrested and detained this month. Turks and Caicos Airport Security When he was returning from his holiday on the island they found bullets in his luggage.
“At some point, (airport security) took out a baggie that had four hunting bullets in it that I use for deer hunting. And I was just as surprised as anyone else,” Watson told Fox News Digital. That he discovered this.” “I don’t remember ever putting those pills in that bag. I can guess that I used that bag on weekend trips and I – in November – used that bag for my deer- Had it for a hunting trip.”
Now, Watson – who was celebrating his 40th birthday with several of his friends on the islands – faces at least 12 years in jail if his efforts to seek justice in court are not successful. A recent ruling passed in February makes it punishable by more than a decade in prison for Turks and Caicos tourists leaving the country with pills in their bags. His wife, Valerie, was arrested along with her husband on April 12, but authorities released her on Tuesday.
Ryan and Valerie Watson were arrested in Turks and Caicos on April 12, after island airport officers found ammunition in Ryan’s carry-on bag. Valerie was released, but Ryan faced up to 12 years in prison. (GoFundMe)
“I thought at first it was an intimidation tactic,” Ryan Watson said of the possible 12-year sentence he was told upon his arrest.
Oklahoma airport under TSA microscope after father found ammo in Turks and Caicos prison
Watson was Released on $15,000 bail The driver they hired for their week-long vacation put his vehicle up “as they say, bail bondsman,” Watson said.
A Turks and Caicos court confirmed that Ryan Watson was granted $15,000 bail on ammunition charges. (Turks and Caicos Police)
“So it must be a local person who has property worth equal to your bail. And so he put up his vehicle, which is his way of earning a living. He put up the ownership of that vehicle for us to take the bail,” Watson explained.
The father of two is now living at a local residence because he cannot leave Turks and Caicos under the terms of his release until his trial.
The Oklahoma father has been in contact with at least five other Americans who are facing the same fate, including Tyler Weinreich, who is in jail after being arrested on April 20.
Tyler Weinreich also faces a minimum 12-year prison sentence after two stray bullets were found in his bag while traveling home from Turks and Caicos. (Michael Weinreich)
Weinreich’s father, Michael Weinreich, told Fox News Digital, “Double-checking. Triple-checking. Quadruple-checking. Because… such an innocent mistake has now happened… it’s impacting so many families.” ”
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Both men, who are legal gun owners in the US, passed through TSA security at US airports without being flagged before their trips.
Ryan and Valerie Watson are on vacation in Turks and Caicos. (Facebook)
Now, the TSA is investigating Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, where Watson flew to the islands.
“(I) never knew about us.”
Watson said, “We had no intention of bringing anything into this country. …It was just trying to pack board shorts and flip-flops and that’s all we were concerned about bringing.” “So… it never occurred to us to do research on any of these things. And there are so many local people who have been such a blessing and have such kind hearts.”
Valerie Watson similarly said that her family realizes that their story “could hurt” tourism in Turks and Caicos, which her family does not want because the locals they met there are “very good-hearted people. Are.”
Weinreich flew in from Virginia to Florida, where he boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for a “wedding party” without a trace of the gunfire, his father said. The cruise docked, and the party spent some time in Grand Turk, before Weinreich was finally detained when he was caught with two stray bullets in his bag while returning home.
Weinreich flew from Virginia to Florida, where he boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for a “wedding party” without any trace of the gunfire. (TCI Police)
The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas currently has a travel warning that states “(f)arms, ammunition (including stray bullets), and other weapons are not permitted in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI),” it Stating that “TCI officers strictly enforce all firearms-and-ammunition-related laws.”
“If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even unknowingly, we will not be able to secure your release from custody.”
“Penalty for TCI trip with gun, ammunition, or other weapons may result in a custodial sentence of at least twelve (12) years,” the embassy said in the alert. “If you bring a firearm or ammunition into the TCI, even unintentionally, Then we won’t be able to protect you. Release from custody. You are subject to TCI laws and must comply with local law enforcement procedures.”
Tyler Weinreich and Ryan Watson are both set to appear in court in Turks and Caicos on June 7. (Michael Weinreich)
Valerie thanked the public and government leaders for supporting her family and said she and her children just want Ryan home.
He said, “We really try to raise our kids to be good people. We try to be good people and do good for others. We would never knowingly do anything that would harm anyone.” “And the amount of support people have shown us through all of this in so many different ways, through prayer, through GoFundMe… our government officials, doing everything they can to help and support us “I mean, it’s humbling and we’re very grateful… We want Ryan to come home so he can be with our kids and our family.”
Both Watson and Weinreich are scheduled to appear in court on June 7.
