An American traveler to the Turks and Caicos Islands faces a possible mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison for bringing hunting ammunition into British territory.
In an interview with NBC10 Boston, Ryan Watson, who traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands with his wife Valerie Watson on April 7, called the incident “silly mistake.”
Ryan and Valerie Watson were arrested in Turks and Caicos on April 12, 2024, after hunting ammunition was allegedly discovered in the couple’s carry-on luggage.
GoFundMe via Jessica Byrd
Ryan and Valerie were detained by airport security in Turks and Caicos on April 12 before the couple’s return flight to Oklahoma. When officers searched her carry-on bag, they found a Ziploc bag with ammunition that Ryan said came from hunting whitetail deer.
Ryan maintains he didn’t know there was ammunition in the bag. Still, officials said the couple violated strict laws in Turks and Caicos. The couple were detained on the island for more than a week, charged with possession of ammunition, and their passports were confiscated.
The Watson couple were in Turks and Caicos Islands to celebrate the 40th birthdays of several friends, who were also on the trip.
Valerie’s charges were dropped Monday and she returned to Oklahoma the next day to be reunited with her young children.
Ryan’s charges stayed put. He was granted bail on Wednesday after his hearing.
Valerie told NBC10 Boston that she was “terrified” to learn of the possible 12-year prison sentence.
“We can’t both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home,” Valerie said, and she added that they didn’t know the ammo was in her carry-on. “My immediate thought was that they and our children would be left without parents for so long.”
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Valeria was also concerned that a possible prison sentence in Turks and Caicos would put a financial strain on their lives.
“What happens if we lose our house?” she worried. “When we moved to Oklahoma, we built a house that we thought would be our forever home. And to think that this is going to ruin us.”
Ryan called the arrest “something we may never recover from.”
His sister, Jessica Byrd, established a GoFundMe page to help the Watson family pay their legal fees and “ensure the Watsons have basic needs during this difficult time.” GoFundMe has raised more than $156,000 US (about $213,700 Canadian).
In 2023, the United States Embassy in the Bahamas issued a reminder to American travelers being told not to bring firearms or ammunition into the Turks and Caicos Islands. The alert told Americans that “firearms, ammunition and other weapons are not permitted in the Turks and Caicos Islands” and could be punishable by a minimum sentence of 12 years.
“If you bring a firearm or ammunition to TCI, we will not be able to secure your release,” the Embassy stated.
The Embassy alert came after another American citizen, Michael Grim, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of ammunition and was sentenced to eight months in prison. Like Ryan, Grim said he didn’t know there was ammunition in his bag. (Judges in Turks and Caicos may consider “Exceptional circumstances”when deciding prison sentences for possession charges, so Grim did not receive a 12-year sentence).
Turks and Caicos amended their gun and ammunition laws in 2022, establishing stricter penalties for possession. Although citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands had already been prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, tourists could previously pay a fine.
On Wednesday, the United States Embassy issued another alert warning citizens not to bring ammunition or firearms into the Turks and Caicos Islands. The alert urged travelers to “carefully check their luggage for lost ammunition or forgotten weapons before leaving the United States.”
The US Embassy told NBC10 Boston that they are aware of citizens who were arrested in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but did not provide names.
“The United States Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety of American citizens abroad,” the statement read.
The Turks and Caicos Communications Directorate said Wednesday that there are currently three U.S. citizens on bail in the territory for possession of a weapon or ammunition.
“The Firearms Ordinance applies to all persons present in the Turks and Caicos Islands, regardless of their status or origin,” the management wrote.
In the past two years, management said five separate cases involving a weapons or ammunition possession charge have resulted only in the issuance of fines without jail time, given “exceptional circumstances.”
Since November 2022, there have been eight firearms and ammunition prosecutions involving Americans in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ryan’s next court appearance is reportedly scheduled for June 7.
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