Couple alleges unfair treatment of Americans in Turks and Caicos

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Are Turks and Caicos Islands Unfairly Targeting Americans When Enforcing Gun and Ammunition Laws?

That’s one of many questions Oklahoma man Ryan Watson has after being detained there for more than two months.

He and his wife Valerie gave a lengthy interview to FOX 25 on Friday to shed light on their situation.

FOX 25 was at Will Rogers World Airport when he stepped off the plane and into the arms of his wife and children on June 21, after the ordeal was finally over.

The fatal mistake of leaving four cartridges in his bag on a previous hunting trip put him in the international media spotlight, with the case attracting worldwide attention.

The couple were initially arrested on April 12.

Ryan recalls: “I said, ‘Can I make a call? I need to let my mom know that you know we’re going to be late picking up the kids.’ And then the guy started laughing. And he said, ‘You don’t understand.’ He said, ‘You’re both going to jail for 12 years.'”

The islands had imposed a minimum sentence of 12 years in prison for possession of ammunition.

Given the possibility of a sentence of several years behind bars, they contacted the State Department.

They described agency officials as unhelpful, appearing disconnected, even uncaring, and dishonest.

They then asked Oklahoma elected officials and the media for help.

Ryan shared, “It was terrifying, to be honest with you. If we didn’t have Senator (Mullin), Senator Lankford and Governor Stitt on our side, I would be in jail. There’s no doubt about that. “

“They’re going to ruin our children’s lives because of an honest mistake. It was heartbreaking,” Valerie added.

They say they saw a Brazilian woman questioned for the same crime but released with a fine, while Ryan was one of five Americans detained long-term in recent months for possession of ammunition.

While Valerie was eventually able to leave the islands, Ryan had to stay for 70 days, including 3 in jail.

He described “fecal matter all over the walls and cockroaches all the time” behind the bars.

His absence left the couple’s young son and daughter hurt and confused.

Valerie described their daughter wondering, ‘When is Daddy coming home? Is he going to be home, you know, tomorrow or the day after? Is he going to be home when I start second grade? Is he going to be home when I’m in third grade?’ You know, I’m just asking all these hard questions that I don’t have the answers to.”

Regardless, the Watsons saw God’s hand at work throughout their turmoil.

Under pressure from our legislators, the islands changed their laws to allow more leniency in cases like Ryan’s. He got off with a suspended sentence and a $2,000 fine.

“It was one thing after another, it was just, you can’t believe in coincidences after that. I mean it was 100 percent divine intervention,” Ryan said.

The couple vowed never to return to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“That muddy red water of Lake Eufaula sounds pretty good right now. I tell you what. There’s no water blue enough to ever take me back there,” he said.

Now the Watsons say they are focused on getting back to normal and fighting for fellow American Sharitta Grier, who is still stuck in the Turks and Caicos Islands on the same charge.