A Michigan couple that had been locked in a maximum security prison in Mexico on allegations that they had defrauded a timeshare returned to the U.S. on Thursday.
Paul and Christy Akeo, residents of Lansing, Michigan, were accused of defrauding the Palace Co., with which they had a timeshare membership, after getting American Express to refund $116,587 in disputed charges, according to The Associated Press.
When they arrived in Mexico on March 4 to vacation at a different resort, they were arrested and jailed in a maximum security prison. The Akeos said the company had breached the timeshare agreement, but Palace and prosecutors in the Quintana Roo state argued the Michiganders were at fault.
“Paul and Christy Akeo fraudulently disputed legitimate credit card charges and publicly encouraged others to do the same. Mexican prosecutors reviewed the evidence and, following failed attempts to serve notice, obtained a court-approved arrest warrant,” Palace Co. said, according to WILX-TV.
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, Michigan Republican, got involved in trying to release his two constituents from Mexican custody, and he and the Akeos were able to fly back Thursday, according to a video the lawmaker posted on X.
“This essentially amounted to a contract dispute and shouldn’t result in somebody being in max prison,” Mr. Barrett told the AP.
President Trump and special presidential envoy Adam Boehler were also involved in getting the couple freed.
“’Thank you so much President Trump. We appreciate it more than you even know,” Ms. Akeo told Mr. Trump in a video recorded on the plane ride back to the U.S., according to the Daily Mail.
As part of their deal to get out of custody, the Akeos will put the money reimbursed to them by American Express toward charity.
“The defendants agreed to repair the damage to the center of the accommodation in a common agreement … On its part, the hotel chain noted that the payment will be allocated to three nonprofit organizations,” Quintana Roo prosecutors wrote on Facebook Thursday as translated from Spanish.
Palace said in a statement to CNN: “The Palace Company and the Akeos agree that $116,587.84, the amount that was contested by the Akeos and refunded to them by American Express, will be donated to a bona fide established nonprofit in Mexico benefiting orphan children. Each party regrets that this incident occurred.”
