A Michigan couple, Paul and Christy Akeo, are back home after spending nearly a month in a Mexican prison. They were detained due to a dispute with a timeshare company over canceled credit card payments. The couple, aged 58 and 60, returned to Lansing, Michigan, on April 3, following their release.
The trouble began when the Palace Company accused the Akeos of fraud for canceling 13 payments totaling about $116,500 in 2022. The couple argued that their credit card company refunded the charges because the resort did not fulfill its promised services. After a judge dismissed the criminal case, the couple was released when an agreement was reached between the Akeos, the timeshare company, and the state attorney of Quintana Roo.
As part of the agreement, over $116,000 will be donated to a nonprofit in Mexico that supports orphaned children. Both parties expressed regret over the incident in a joint statement.
The Akeos were arrested shortly after arriving in Cancun on March 4, following a complaint from Palace Elite Resorts. The company claimed the couple had defrauded them through chargebacks on their American Express card after buying a timeshare years earlier. The couple’s lawyer stated they were held captive in a Cancun prison, describing their situation as a form of extortion.
Michigan Republican Representative Tom Barrett took action by traveling to Mexico to advocate for their release. He reported that the couple was in poor health due to their prison conditions, which included overcrowded cells and inadequate food. After meeting with them, Barrett pushed for their swift release, stating that they should not be held for a contract dispute.
On April 4, Barrett shared a video of the Akeos boarding a plane back to Michigan, celebrating their return home. Their daughter, Lindsey Hull, had expressed deep concern for her parents’ well-being during their captivity, claiming they faced serious health issues and were denied proper medical care.
Hull thanked government officials for their help, especially Barrett, who she said took significant risks to ensure her parents’ safe return. She emphasized that no American should be held hostage by a private company’s demands anywhere in the world. The Akeos are now expected to receive medical treatment for the health issues they endured during their time in prison.