The second of five U.S. citizens arrested for bringing ammunition into the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) returned to the United States on May 30 after spending more than two weeks in jail.
Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia, was arrested in April after TCI authorities found two stray rounds of ammunition in his backpack while he was on a cruise ship. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
A TCI court sentenced him to time served and ordered him to pay a $9,000 fine. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Mr. Wenrich “will soon be returning to his loving family in Virginia.”
Mr. Wenrich arrived at the Richmond, Virginia, airport on May 30 following his release.
“It feels good to be back with my wife and my son,” he told reporters at the airport. “I’m just exhausted and happy to be back, honestly. It’s been a roller coaster, and I’m thankful for friends, family, [and] representatives involved in trying to help us get back.”
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) said he was pleased with Mr. Wenrich’s sentence. He shared a photo on social media platform X showing himself with Mr. Wenrich and his family at the airport.
“After 37 days in Turks & Caicos, including 2 weeks behind bars, Tyler Wenrich is finally back in Virginia and reunited with his family. It was a joy and my honor to greet Tyler at the airport,” Mr. Good wrote.
the Republican said in another statement: “This is the result we were seeking on my trip with congressional colleagues last week to the Turks & Caicos.
“We met with government officials to advocate for the release of all the American detainees who were facing a [sic] 12-year prison sentences for accidental and non-threatening offenses.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said he was glad that Mr. Wenrich was given “a lenient sentence for mistakenly bringing just two hunting bullets to Turks and Caicos while on a cruise.”
“Tyler never sought to break the law, so I’m deeply relieved that the justice system chose fairness and leniency over a 12-year prison sentence,” Mr. Warner said in a statement.
US Citizens Still Detained
Mr. Wenrich was among five American travelers who were arrested by TCI authorities for allegedly carrying ammunition in their luggage. The other four were Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, Michael Lee Evans of Texas, and Sharitta Shinise Grier of Florida.
Mr. Hagerich returned home on May 24 after being given a suspended sentence and a $6,700 fine. The three travelers who remain could each face a minimum 12-year prison sentence and a fine under TCI law if convicted.
A U.S. congressional delegation met with TCI officials on May 20 to call for their release. However, TCI stated that the legal process must be allowed to play out without interference from officials.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who was part of the congressional delegation, welcomed the decision by TCI authorities to release Mr. Wenrich but urged TCI to address the consequences of its laws.
Bryan Hagerich hugs his children at Pittsburgh International Airport after being given a suspended sentence in the Turks and Caicos Islands on May 24, 2024. (AP/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)
“This is welcome news, and another step in the right direction. I again encourage TCI to address the unintended consequences of their law to prevent this from happening again,” Mr. Mullin stated on X.
Three governors—namely Mr. Youngkin, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt—had previously asked TCI Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam to “reconsider” the charges against the Americans.
The TCI government earlier said the importation of firearms and ammunition, including stray bullets, is strictly prohibited “unless [a] license to do so has been issued by the Commissioner of Police.”
The State Department had also issued a travel alert urging Americans to carefully check their luggage “for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons.”
The alert reads: “Declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in your arrest.”
Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.
