US governors request release of three US citizens in TCI

The governors of the US states of Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Virginia wrote yesterday to the governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, calling for the ‘immediate’ release of three American men who are in legal trouble in the UK overseas area.

Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania and Tyler Wenrich of Virginia are all being held in the Turks and Caicos Islands on charges of possession of ammunition.

In their appeal, Governors Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia noted that none of the U.S. citizens were carrying firearms and that both men claimed the ammunition was inadvertently left in their luggage after legal recreational activities in the United States. States. .

“As governors, we understand and appreciate the critical importance of enforcing the laws and regulations of your territory for the protection of your citizens. We humbly ask that your administration – in its wisdom – temper justice with mercy and recognize that these men made mistakes but had no apparent malicious intent,” the governors wrote.

“We respectfully request that you reconsider the charges against Bryan Hagerich, Tyler Scott Wenrich and Ryan Tyler Watson and that they be released back to their respective states and families as soon as possible. This action will create the necessary recognition of your laws that will influence the future actions of travelers and continue our mutual interest in justice and goodwill between our jurisdictions.”

Four Americans are currently in the TCI and face a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years under the territory’s new Firearms and Ammunition Control Act.

In the most recent incident Sharitta Shinise Grier was arrested at Howard Hamilton International Airport in Providenciales on May 13 after ammunition was found in her luggage.

Grier, a 45-year-old resident of Orlando, Florida, was charged with one count of possession of ammunition.

She appeared in court on May 16 and was sent to jail by a magistrate pending a sufficiency hearing on July 5.