After being detained for a month in a Mexican prison over a timeshare dispute, Michigan residents Paul and Christy Akeo have been released and returned home, following intervention from U.S. Representative Tom Barrett and former President Donald Trump. The couple had been held since March 4 after arriving in Cancun for a vacation and faced fraud charges from Palace Elite Resorts for allegedly canceling nearly $117,000 in credit card charges. The charges were dropped after a settlement was reached, which involved a payment to a charitable organization in Mexico, WILX reports.
According to WNEM, the Akeos boarded a flight back to Lansing last night, with Barrett who traveled to Mexico to advocate for their release, saying "Mission accomplished" on a post on social media. The Palace Company acknowledged the efforts of Representative Barrett and former President Trump's mediation team in helping to resolve the dispute.
The original arrest warrant for the Akeos was issued following a criminal complaint filed by the Palace Company with Mexican authorities, a situation further supported by Interpol's issuance of a red notice. The arrest was made immediately upon the couple's arrival in Cancun, as detailed by Christy Akeo in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America." She described her incarceration as a time spent in a "small Mexican jail cell with poor, unsanitary conditions," a claim backed by Barrett's description of the prison as having "rubbled walls, overcrowded cells, toilets that don’t flush and disgusting food," as relayed by The Detroit News.
Lindsey Hull, the Akeos' daughter, denied the fraud allegations against her parents and used social media to raise awareness about their situation. Hull stated that Palace Elite Resorts had initially proposed a settlement that included an apology, a $250,000 payment, and a non-disclosure agreement, which the family viewed as inappropriate. Describing the resolution of the case, Barrett shared that all charges in Mexico were dropped after "a trial judge ultimately presided over the discharge of the couple's case," as per The Detroit News.
The terms of the Akeos' release included a payment of $116,587.84 to a non-profit organization in Mexico that supports orphaned children, according to a statement from The Palace Company obtained by WILX. Upon their return to Michigan, they were welcomed with relief and celebration. A family friend, Mallory Wilson, informed NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield that the couple had notified family members of their return and were looking forward to reuniting with their loved ones after the extended separation.
