PA Sen. Fetterman Goes To Caribbean To Urge U.S. Detainees Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and a contingent of congressional members returned Monday from a trip to Turks and Caicos, where the group urged officials there to release Americans being detained after ammunition was found in their luggage.

Five tourists have been criminally charged after small amounts of ammunition were found in their checked luggage. They face a minimum of 12 years in prison under a new amendment that strengthened an existing Turks and Caicos law.

One of them, Bryan Hagerich, 39, of Somerset County in Western Pennsylvania, has been in custody since February after a small amount of hunting ammunition was discovered in his bag as he and his family were preparing to leave the islands.

Hagerich recently told Fox News that he made "an honest mistake."

"I had no intention — I had no knowledge that ammunition was in my checked luggage," he said.

Fetterman, a Pittsburgh-area Democrat, said in a statement that the congressional contingent met with each of the detainees. He said they were in good spirits but desired to go home.

"These people did not set out to break the law," he stated. "They are people who made a mistake and now face substantial time in prison because of it. As we articulated to (Turks-Caicos) officials, I urge the court to be lenient."

The congressional group included Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and U.S. representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Michael Cloud (R-TX), and Bob Good (R-VA).

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas has cautioned all travelers to carefully check their luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing from the U.S.

"If you bring a firearm or ammunition into (Turks-Caicos), even inadvertently, we will not be able to secure your release from custody," the warning states. "You are subject to (Turks-Caicos) laws and must follow local law enforcement procedures."