A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition in the Turks and Caicos Islands after airport security found a stray bullet in his luggage as he prepared to fly home last month.
Five Americans have been arrested and detained for possession of ammunition on the island since February under a new ordinance that imposes a minimum 12-year prison term for possession of ammunition for both residents and visitors. At least three of the Americans told Fox News Digital that they had no idea there was ammunition in their bags in the first place.
Tyler Wenrich, a husband and father of a 1-year-old son, was first arrested April 20 after a wedding party at TCI and was found guilty in court Monday as prosecutors and defense attorneys held oral arguments. He told Fox that he admitted it. News Digital.
He expects a sentencing hearing will be scheduled sometime next week.
Florida woman becomes fifth American detained in Turks and Caicos Islands for carrying ammunition
Wenrich flew from Virginia to Florida, where he boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for a “wedding party,” but no bullets were detected. (TCI Police)
Wenrich flew in from Virginia. Her father, Michael Wenrich, previously told Fox News Digital that the boy was on board a Royal Caribbean Cruise in Florida 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’s plea came a day after a bipartisan Congressional delegation visited TCI and called on government leaders to release an American detained for allegedly having a stray bullet in his bag.
3 U.S. governor asks Turks and Caicos Islands to release American captured with bullets
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)
The latest arrest was on May 15, when authorities took Sharita Greer, a mother from Florida, into custody. Others include: Oklahoma’s Ryan Watson Brian Hagerich of Pennsylvania and Michael Lee Evans of Texas.
Court hearing of American arrested with ammunition in bag in Turks and Caicos Islands could set new precedent
Five Americans have been arrested in the Turks and Caicos Islands since February for smuggling ammunition into the island’s airport. Left to right: Michael Lee Evans (not pictured), Brian Hagerich, Tyler Wenrich, Ryan Watson and Shalitta Greer. (Turks and Caicos Police Department/Dimitrios Cambris)
“The U.S. delegation has currently filed five cases in court involving U.S. persons, raising concerns for their health and seeking clarification on the legal process,” the TCI governor’s office said in a statement Monday. “In order to maintain the integrity of the legal process, the Governor has confirmed that it would not be appropriate to facilitate the delegation’s request to meet with the Chief Justice.”
The governor and premier also said they “cannot intervene or comment on ongoing litigation in court,” the statement continued. “They believe that Turks and Caicos Islands has clear laws prohibiting the possession of firearms and ammunition, with severe penalties in place to serve and protect everyone who resides and visits Turks and Caicos Islands. He explained.
American arrested in Turks and Caicos Islands could face 12 years in prison for ‘innocent mistake’: ‘He never disrespected us’
A bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation visited TCI officials on Monday to discuss the arrests of five Americans on ammunition charges. (TCI Government Office)
Last week, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin sent a letter to Turks and Caicos Islands Gov. Dilini Daniel Selvaratnam, asking Mr. Watson, Mr. Hagerich, and Wen. A letter was sent requesting Mr. Rich’s release.
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“Like thousands of Americans each year, these people recently visited your beautiful territory for leisure,” the governors wrote in a joint letter shared with Fox News Digital. “They all claim they did not intend to bring any ammunition into the Turks and Caicos Islands, and that the ammunition unknowingly left in their luggage was the result of lawful conduct in the United States. It is my understanding that he did not have any firearms in his possession.”
State Department recently issued a PSA on the The ministry urged travelers to check the pockets and “every nook and cranny” of their suitcases before traveling to “avoid running into problems abroad.”
