Exclusive: Several Americans have been sentenced to at least 12 years in prison for unknowingly carrying ammunition or bullets in their luggage while returning from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ryan Watson, a father of two from Oklahoma, and Tyler Wenrich, a father of one year old from Virginia, were killed by security guards at the Turks and Caicos Islands airport when they were struck by bullets in their luggage while traveling. He was arrested and taken into custody this month after he was found to have . their island vacation.
“At some point, [airport security] He pulled out a bag containing four hunting bullets for deer hunting. Watson told Fox News Digital: “I was just as surprised as everyone else that they made that discovery. I don’t remember putting any bullets in that bag.” I used that bag on a weekend trip and I can only assume that I also used it on a deer hunting trip in Texas back in November. ”
Watson, who was currently celebrating the 40th birthday of several friends on the island, could face a minimum of 12 years in prison if his efforts to seek justice in court are not successful. The most recent mandate, passed in February, makes Turks and Caicos tourists facing more than 10 years in prison if they leave the country with a bullet in their bag. His wife, Valerie, was arrested along with her husband on April 12, but authorities released them on Tuesday.
Oklahoma man with ammunition at Turks and Caicos Airport could face 12 years in prison: ‘I’m at risk of losing everything’
Ryan and Valerie Watson were arrested in the Turks and Caicos Islands on April 12 after the island’s airport staff found ammunition in Ryan’s carry-on bag. Valerie was released, but Ryan could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. (GoFundMe)
“At first I thought it was an intimidation tactic,” Ryan Watson said of the possible 12 years in prison that was explained to him at the time of his arrest.
Oklahoma airport subject to TSA microscopic inspection after father found in Turks and Caicos Islands prison with ammunition
Watson said he was released on $15,000 bail after the driver he hired for his week-long vacation offered his car as a “so-called surety.”
A court in the Turks and Caicos Islands has granted Ryan Watson $15,000 bail on a charge of possession of ammunition. (Turks and Caicos Police)
“So it has to be a local guy who has assets equivalent to bail money. So he put his car up for sale. That was his means of making a living. He I gave up the title to the car so we could get the bail,” Watson explained.
The father-of-two is currently staying in a local residence as his release conditions prevent him from leaving the Turks and Caicos Islands until his trial.
The Oklahoma father has been in contact with at least five Americans facing the same fate, including Tyler Wenrich, who remains in prison after his April 20 arrest.
Tyler Wenrich also faces a minimum of 12 years in prison after two stray bullets were found in his bag while returning from the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Michael Wenrich)
“Double check, triple check, quadruple check, because…an innocent mistake like this now…is impacting so many families,” Wenrich’s father, Michael Wenrich, told Fox News. told Digital.
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Both men are legal gun owners in the United States and passed through TSA security at U.S. airports without being flagged prior to their trip.
Ryan and Valerie Watson vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Facebook)
The TSA is currently investigating Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, where Watson departed to get to the island.
”[I]We never knew. ”
“We had no intention of bringing anything into this country. … We were just trying to pack board shorts and flip-flops, and that’s all we were concerned about bringing,” Watson said. Ta. “So…it never occurred to us to look into these things. And there are a lot of local people who have been blessed just like that and have very benevolent hearts.”
Valerie Watson similarly said her family recognized their story “could be damaging” to tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but locals they met there were “very heartbroken.” The family doesn’t want that to happen because they are “kind people.”
Her father said Wenrich flew from Virginia to Florida, where he boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for a “wedding party,” but no bullets were detected. After the cruise docked and the group spent some time on Grand Turk Island, Wenrich was detained on the way home because he had two stray bullets in his bag.
Wenrich flew from Virginia to Florida, where he boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for a “wedding party,” but no bullets were detected. (TCI Police)
The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas currently has the following travel warnings in place:[f]”Firearms, ammunition (including stray bullets), and other weapons are not permitted in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI),” and “TCI authorities strictly enforce all firearms and ammunition-related laws.” added.
“If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even inadvertently, we cannot secure your release from custody.”
“Traveling to TCI with firearms, ammunition, or other weapons may result in a prison sentence of at least 12 years,” the embassy said in a warning. “If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even inadvertently, we cannot secure your release from custody. You are subject to TCI law and local law enforcement procedures cannot be guaranteed. must be followed.”
Tyler Wenrich and Ryan Watson are scheduled to appear in court in the Turks and Caicos Islands on June 7th. (Michael Wenrich)
Valerie thanked the public and government leaders for the outpouring of support for her family and said she and her children just want Ryan home.
“We just try really hard to raise our kids to be good people. We try to be good people and we try to do good things for other people. We try to do good things for others. “I would never intentionally do anything that would add to that,” she said. “And people are helping us through all of this in different ways, through prayer, through GoFundMe, through our government officials who are doing everything they can to help and support us. “The tremendous amount of support that’s been shown to us. I mean, it’s humbling, it’s humbling, it’s humbling. We’re so grateful for the support Ryan has shown us. I want you to go home so I can spend time with you. ”
Mr. Watson and Mr. Wenrich are scheduled to appear in court on June 7.
