American arrested in Turks and Caicos after ammo found in luggage out on bail, faces June court date

Ryan Watson, the American tourist who faces a 12-year prison sentence in the Turks and Caicos Islands after ammunition was allegedly found in his luggage by airport security, is released on bail.

Watson, 40, was granted $15,000 bail Wednesday after spending two nights in jail. The Oklahoma father of two must remain on the island and must report every Tuesday and Thursday to the Grace Bay police station while his case proceeds. Watson’s wife, Valerie Watson, faces no charges and was able to return home to Oklahoma on Tuesday.

His next court date is June 7.

Watson’s bail comes as Tyler Wenrich, a 31-year-old man from Virginia, was charged with the same count of possession of ammunition earlier this week, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police announced Thursday. Police say Wenrich was found with ammunition while going through a security check after arriving on the island of Grand Turk from a cruise ship on Tuesday.

Bryan Hagerich, another American who was also arrested for allegedly having ammunition in his luggage in February, will appear before a judge on May 3, and sentencing will likely take place soon after. Ryan Watson hopes his case can be expedited depending on the outcome of the Hagerich case.

A GoFundMe page created for the Watson family had, as of Thursday evening, raised more than $175,000.

“I’m completely humbled and incredibly fortunate that people are responding in such a powerful way,” Ryan Watson told CBS News. “I always pray that the State Department can help us find a solution to get home.”

Valerie Watson previously told CBS News that the munitions were brought to the island by mistake.

“Packing ammunition was not our intention at all,” she said.

Following a CBS News report on Ryan Watson, the State Department on Wednesday sent a Tweeter warning American tourists traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands to check their bags for misplaced ammunition and firearms.

Turks and Caicos authorities “strictly enforce all laws relating to firearms and ammunition,” the State Department wrote. “Declaring a weapon in your baggage to an air carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in your arrest.”

Possession of a firearm or ammunition is prohibited in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In February, a court ruling mandated that even tourists leaving the country, who previously could only pay a fine, could face prison time.

At least one gun rights group is urging its members not to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands because of the recent arrests.

“To all American gun owners, do not travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory located southeast of the Bahamas, and if you have already made plans, reconsider your destination,” wrote the Second Amendment Association.