OKC Standard

Congressman Josh Brecheen returns from bipartisan CODEL to Turks and Caicos, pushes for release of five detained Americans

Washington, D.C. – On Monday evening, Congressman Josh Brecheen (R-OK) returned from a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation (CODEL) to Turks and Caicos (TCI). The members met with TCI government officials to discuss the detention of five Americans who were found with ammunition in their luggage. If convicted, the Americans could each face a twelve-year minimum prison sentence.

Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) led the CODEL, which included Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), and Bob Good (R-VA).

“Our comments to Turks and Caicos officials were diplomatic but also to the point,” said Rep. Brecheen. “I reiterated that with Turks and Caicos’ economy being 65 percent based on tourism, and with 80 percent of that coming from the United States, it is in their interest to ensure justice prevails. We were emphatic that it would be unfathomable for five Americans, including Oklahoma’s own Ryan Watson, to face 12 years in prison for accidentally leaving a handful of shells in their luggage.”

Brecheen continued: “I shared my position with the Attorney General and the Premier that a modification of their law seems to be the only way to reverse the message of fear their actions have instilled in U.S. tourists and that there must be just outcomes with the pending cases. With sentences for the five Americans to be announced in the days ahead, we shall see whether justice prevails. If not, America must respond appropriately using every economic tool in our toolbox.”

Background: One of those detained is Ryan Tyler Watson from Oklahoma who traveled to Turks and Caicos on a 40th birthday trip with his wife and other couples. As they were leaving the island in April, TCI airport security reportedly found four rounds of ammunition left unknowingly in a duffel bag from a previous deer hunting expedition. While Watson’s wife was released and allowed to return home, Ryan is awaiting his hearing in June.

The other detained Americans are Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas; Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania; Tyler Scott Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Sharitta Shanise Grier, 45, of Orlando.