A paradise vacation has turned into a nightmare for one family.
An Oklahoma father faces up to 12 years in prison after accidentally carrying four bullets to the Turks and Caicos islands when he traveled there for a celebration.
Ryan and Valerie Watson were on the Caribbean island with several couples for a 40th birthday party.
They said when they tried to return home to the states, local airport security found the ammunition Ryan had unknowingly left in a duffel bag after a deer hunting trip. It had not been caught by the TSA when he left home.
The parents of two young children were taken into custody in a "nightmare scenario" as they got caught up in the country's strict new gun laws.
"They are facing a legal system that is unfamiliar, daunting, and expensive that operates differently than the American Justice System," a GoFundMe for the family stated.
Valerie was released of charges on Tuesday and was returning to Oklahoma.
Ryan had a bail hearing on Wednesday and was released after spending two nights in jail. He is due back in court on June 7 and is forced to remain in Turks and Caicos until then.
"They face mounting legal fees, living expenses, and the overwhelming stress of their situation. The emotional and financial toll is immense, and they are at risk of losing everything," the GoFundMe stated.
On Wednesday the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued an alert to U.S. citizens planning to travel to the Turks and Caicos islands to check for ammunition.
"TSA screening in the United States may not identify ammunition in your baggage; it is your responsibility to ensure your baggage is free of ammunition and/or firearms," the alert stated.
"If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even inadvertently, we will not be able to secure your release from custody," the warning continued.
