U.S. tourist faces 12-year sentence for bringing ammo to Turks and Caicos

globalnews.ca:

An American traveller to Turks and Caicos is facing a potential mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison for bringing hunting ammunition into the British territory.

In an interview with NBC10 Boston, Ryan Watson, who travelled to Turks and Caicos with his wife Valerie Watson on April 7, called the incident a “bonehead mistake.”

Ryan and Valerie were stopped by airport security in Turks and Caicos on April 12 ahead of the couple’s flight home to Oklahoma. When officials searched their carry-on bag, they found a Ziploc bag of ammunition that Ryan said was from hunting whitetail deer.

Ryan maintains he did not know the ammunition was in the bag. Regardless, officials said the couple broke strict laws in Turks and Caicos. The couple was detained on the island for over a week, charged with possession of ammunition and had their passports confiscated.

The Watson couple was in Turks and Caicos to celebrate the 40th birthdays of several friends, who were also on the trip.

Valerie’s charges were dropped on Monday, and she returned to Oklahoma the following day to be reunited with their young children.

Ryan’s charges still stand. He was granted bail on Wednesday after his hearing.

Valerie told NBC10 Boston she was “terrified” to learn of the potential 12-year prison sentence.

“We can’t both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home,” Valerie said, adding that they did not know the ammo was in their carry-on. “My immediate thought was our kids and them being parentless for that long.”

Valeria also worried a possible prison sentence in Turks and Caicos would put a financial strain on their lives.

“What if we lose our house?” she fretted. “When we moved to Oklahoma, we built a home that we thought was our forever home.