A judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Friday morning handed down a suspended 52-month prison sentence to Brian Hagerich, a Pennsylvania-based father of two and former professional baseball player who pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
Hagerich, 39, is one of five Americans who have been arrested and detained on the island since February for allegedly hiding ammunition in their luggage., The crime is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. The other Americans convicted include Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma, Shalitta Greer, 45, of Florida, Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia, and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas.
“He will be released shortly,” Hagelich’s spokesman, Jonathan Franks, said in a tweet on Friday.
Hagerich was also ordered to pay a $6,500 fine.
Brian Haigerich, a 39-year-old former professional baseball star and father of two from Pennsylvania, appeared in court in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Friday, where a judge ordered Haigerich to pay a $6,500 fine. (Handout from the Hagerich family)
“From the day I was arrested, my ultimate goal was to get off the island and go home to my family, and to know that that day could be tomorrow brings up all sorts of emotions,” Hagerich told Fox News Digital on Thursday. “Obviously there’s a lot of anxiety. [are] Many prayers from family, friends and strangers around the world will hopefully bring that outcome.”
He added that he and his lawyers “put up a very strong defense” after pleading guilty.
Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos sleep and pray together while awaiting sentencing: ‘Big family’
Several politicians on Friday praised the judge’s decision. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, said in a post on X on Friday that Hagerich’s suspended sentence was “great news.”
Brian Hagerich was arrested in February in the Turks and Caicos Islands after allegedly hiding ammunition in his luggage at the airport on his way back from a family vacation. (Handout from the Hagerich family)
“We are grateful that the authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands have shown clemency and that Brian Hagerich will soon be able to return home to his family in Somerset,” Casey wrote.
Republican Representative Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania “I am thrilled that Brian Haegerich can return to Pennsylvania and be reunited with his wife and two children, but this horrific situation should never have happened to him or the four other Americans who are still awaiting sentencing,” he said.
“As the Turks and Caicos Islands Government works to respond to future incidents, the British Territory must ensure the safety and health of American visitors. I will not rest until Americans can once again set foot on the islands without putting their livelihoods at risk,” the congressman said.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) also welcomed the “great news.”
Brian Hagerich, Shalitta Greer and Ryan Watson say they’re spending their days strategizing to get home as quickly as possible, making media appearances, calling politicians and cooking. (Handouts)
“When I met with TCI officials a few days ago, they made it clear they wanted this situation resolved. They recognized that Brian and the other detained Americans are not gun traffickers, but simply people who made mistakes,” Fetterman said. “I’m grateful that the judge found it right to bring Brian home. I’m also grateful to the U.S. State Department, which was a key partner in bringing Brian home. I hope that TCI will be able to expeditiously process the remaining cases and that the other detained Americans will soon be released so they can be reunited with their families.”
Haigerich, Watson and Greer all lived in the same apartment building on the island, awaiting their fates.
“We all support each other. We’re a big family,” said Watson, who later described the trio as “like brothers and sisters.”
Virginia man detained in Turks and Caicos recalls moment he realized ‘things were getting bad’
Brian Hagerich spent three and a half months in the Turks and Caicos Islands while waiting for his case to be processed. (Handout from the Hagerich family)
While there are slight differences between the cases, all five were arrested after security discovered ammunition in their luggage on their way home.
Haigerich had packed a large suitcase for a family vacation and in one of the compartments was ammunition from a previous hunting trip.
“I never dreamed a simple mistake would land me in Turks and Caicos for over 100 days,” Hagerich said.
Florida woman becomes fifth American detained in Turks and Caicos for possession of ammunition
The lining of Watson’s carry-on luggage contained leftover bullets from a hunting trip, while the lining of Greer’s gun, which he had recently purchased for self-defense, also contained stray bullets. Greer told Fox News Digital that he wanted the gun in case of an emergency because his brother’s store sometimes closes at night.
Five Americans have been arrested at Turks and Caicos airports since February for possession of ammunition: (From left) Michael Lee Evans (not pictured), Brian Hagerich, Tyler Wenrich, Ryan Watson and Shalitta Greer. (Turks and Caicos Islands Police/Dimitrios Kambouris)
“I had no intention of hurting anybody or anything. It’s something I’m scared of myself. It’s not something to joke about,” Greer said, adding that he had “no reason” to own a gun other than to protect himself while closing down his brother’s store.
In fact, Greer had never fired a gun in his life.
Three U.S. governors urge Turks and Caicos Islands to release Americans held over ammunition issue
Wenrich also told Fox News Digital that he had no intention of bringing the guns onto the island and was unaware that he had two bullets in his travel backpack until security found them.
Ryan Watson, left, and Brian Hagerich, right, cook in their apartment in Turks and Caicos. (Handout from the Hagerich family)
Reschenthaler told Fox News Digital on Thursday that he is lobbying the State Department to issue a no-travel order for TCI that would ban cruise ships from docking on the island and prohibit people from purchasing travel insurance.
The senator also noted that most Americans visiting the islands come from Texas, Florida and Virginia, and is considering imposing tariffs on US imports to TCI and issuing a travel ban from certain states.
Turks and Caicos court hearing for American arrested with ammunition in bag could set new precedent
“Their economy is overwhelmingly dependent on tourism, over 70 percent, and 86 percent of their tourists are American,” Reschenthaler said, “so all we have to do is issue a travel ban.” [order] “And we’re going to destroy their economy overnight, and then hopefully we can free the Americans and force the Turks and Caicos Islands to change this law.”
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pennsylvania) told Fox News Digital on Thursday that he is lobbying the State Department to issue a travel ban order for TCI. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)
He added that the “draconian” law treats Americans who possess ammunition “as if they were arms smugglers and gun dealers.”
“None of them, by the way, had firearms in their possession. The bullets were just carelessly and accidentally left behind in a carry-on duffel bag,” the congressman noted.
American arrested in Turks and Caicos Islands receives 12-year sentence for ‘innocent mistake’: ‘We had no idea’
A bipartisan congressional delegation visited TCI on Monday to urge government leaders to release Americans who were detained for having ammunition in their bags.
A bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress visited TCI officials on Monday to discuss the arrests of five Americans over ammunition possession laws. (TCI Governor’s Office)
“The US delegation raised concerns about the cases of five US nationals currently on trial, concerns about their health status and clarification of the legal process,” the TCI Governor’s Office said in a statement on Monday. “In order to preserve the integrity of the legal process, the Governor confirmed that it would not be appropriate to accommodate the delegation’s request to meet with the Chief Justice.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
The governor and premier also said they “cannot intervene or comment on ongoing litigation in the courts,” the statement continued. “They explained that the Turks and Caicos Islands have clear laws prohibiting the possession of firearms and ammunition, and that severe penalties are in place to protect all people living and visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
