An Oklahoma man faces the prospect of more than a decade in jail on a Caribbean island after customs officials found ammunition in his luggage.
Ryan Watson, 40, and his wife Valerie traveled to Turks and Caicos on April 7 to celebrate his 40th birthday. When they were attempting to return to the states, authorities found a zip-close bag containing bullets in the couple’s carry-on luggage. Watson said it was hunting ammunition he had accidentally brought with him, but Turks and Caicos has strict firearms laws. Both Watson and his wife were criminally charged, and if convicted the court could impose a mandatory 12-year prison sentence.
Wife Spared
The possession of ammunition charges against Valerie were eventually dropped, but the charges remain in place for Ryan, who told the court they were leftover rounds that he uses when hunting back home.
“They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer,” Watson told NBC Boston in an interview conducted last week that aired after his first court appearance. “I recognized them, and I thought, ‘Oh, man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there.”
Valerie was able to return to Oklahoma City last week to be reunited with her two young children, but Ryan remains in custody. He said the financial burden of the much-longer-than-planned trip is “something that we may never recover from.”
In September, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a warning to travelers about a law that strongly prohibits firearm or ammunition possession in Turks and Caicos. In the warning, the embassy said “We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into TCI [Turks and Caicos Islands] and will result in your arrest,” adding “If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, we will not be able to secure your release from custody.”
The Watsons are not the first American family to feel the effects of the strict gun laws in Turks and Caicos. Back in February, American Bryan Hagerick was arrested after ammunition was found in his luggage before he tried to board a flight out of Turks and Caicos. He was on vacation with his family, but has now been in the country for 70 days. He spent eight days in jail before posting bail, and he is finally set to have his day in court on May 3.
The embassy and the government in Turks and Caicos did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“You know, it’s certainly a lot different than packing your bags and going away with your family for a few days. It’s been the worst 70 days of my life,” Hagerick told NBC Boston.
This is simply absurd, and it’s a shame that an accident oversight could lead to a decade in jail when there are much larger issues in both Turks and Caicos and the US that warrant our attention. Hopefully both of these families achieve justice, but it has already been a lifechanging experience that has taken a toll on everyone involved. We plan to keep tabs on the cases and will share any updates we hear.
In the meantime, if you need legal help here in the Twin Cities, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
