A Pennsylvania man arrived at the Pittsburgh airport Friday night after being released from custody in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), where he had been detained for having ammunition in his luggage.
Bryan Hagerich, a 39-year-old husband, father of two and former professional baseball player, is one of five Americans arrested and detained in the islands since February for having missing ammunition in his luggage., a crime punishable by up to 12 years in prison on the islands.
The other Americans detained are Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas.
“It's just amazing how, in just 12 hours, considering 12 years so far,” Hagerich told reporters Friday night after landing in Pittsburgh. “My biggest concern is officiating my kids' baseball games tomorrow, and that's a big relief.”
PENNSYLVANIA DAD ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS TO RETURN HOME AFTER PAYING FINE FOR HAVING AMMUNITION IN LUGGAGE
Bryan Hagerich is greeted by his family as he returns to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Friday, May 24, 2024. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)
Hagerich said his detention was “the most difficult moment of my life” being separated from his family.
“As a parent, as a provider and not being that figure in my family's life, it's a very hard pill to swallow,” he said.
He said the conditions of his detention were “harsh” and the “darkest days” of his life. And while he said he is grateful to be home, he emphasized that there are other Americans still detained on the islands who, he said, “will be home soon.”
A Turks and Caicos Islands judge on Friday morning handed down a 52-month suspended sentence to Hagerich, who pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition on the islands. He was also ordered to pay a $6,500 fine.
Hagerich told Fox News Digital on Thursday that he and his attorneys “presented a very, very strong case” in his defense after he pleaded guilty.
Several lawmakers applauded the decision to release Hagerich from custody on the islands, allowing him to return to his family in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan congressional delegation visited TCI on Monday to urge government leaders to release Americans detained for having missing ammunition in their bags.
AMERICANS ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS LITTLE, PRAY TOGETHER WHILE WAITING FOR SENTENCES: 'ONE BIG FAMILY'
Bryan Hagerich was detained in Turks and Caicos after having loose ammunition in his luggage and was released back to the United States with a suspended sentence on Friday. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)
“This is great news,” U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said in a statement. “Bryan is returning home to his family. It was an honor to meet Bryan and the other Americans detained at TCI this week.”
“When we met with TCI officials a few days ago, they made it clear that they wanted this situation resolved,” Fetterman continued. “They recognized that Bryan and the other detained Americans are not arms dealers; they are simply people who made a mistake. I am grateful that the judge recognized that the right thing to do was to send Bryan home. I am also grateful to the State Department of the United States, which has been a fundamental partner in bringing Bryan home.
Fetterman also said he is hopeful that TCI will expedite the other cases of detained Americans so that they, too, can be released soon and return to their families.
Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Guy Reschenthaler said that while he is “very happy” to see Hagerich return to Pennsylvania and reunite with his wife and children, “this terrifying situation should never have happened to him, nor to the other four Americans still awaiting sentencing.
“While the Turks and Caicos government works to handle future cases, the British territory must ensure the safety and well-being of American tourists. I will not rest until Americans can once again set foot on their islands without putting their livelihoods at risk. of life,” he said. said the congressional representative.
FLORIDA WOMAN BECOMES THE FIFTH AMERICAN ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS FOR CARRYING AMMUNITION
Bryan Hagerich arrived at the Pittsburgh airport Friday night after being released from custody in the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hagerich said Friday night that he is “forever grateful” for the efforts of lawmakers advocating for his release, including the delegation that visited the islands.
“Never in a thousand years did I expect that kind of support,” Hagerich said.
The cases of the five Americans have slight differences, but all five were arrested while traveling home after security detected ammunition in their luggage.
Hagerich had missing ammunition from a previous hunting trip in one of the compartments of a large suitcase in which his family had loaded their belongings for a family vacation.
Watson had stray ammunition, also left over from a hunting trip, in the lining of his carry-on bag. Grier had stray bullets in the lining of his bag after he recently purchased a firearm for his own protection.
Wenrich has also said he had no intention of bringing bullets to the islands and had no idea he had two bullets in his travel backpack until security found them.
Fox News' Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
