American arrested in Turks and Caicos after ammunition found in luggage, granted bail and faces June court date

Ryan Watson, the American tourist who faces a possible 12-year prison sentence in Turks and Caicos Ammunition was allegedly found in his luggage through airport security, is free on bail.

Watson, 40, secured $15,000 bail on Wednesday after spending two nights in jail. The Oklahoma father of two must remain on the island and report to the Grace Bay police station every Tuesday and Thursday as his case progresses. No charges will be filed against Watson's wife, Valerie Watson, and she was able to return to Oklahoma on Tuesday.

His next court date is scheduled for June 7.

Watson's bond comes as Tyler Wenrich, a 31-year-old from Virginia, was charged earlier this week with the same ammunition possession charge, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands police announced Thursday. According to police, Wenrich was allegedly found with ammunition as he passed through a security checkpoint after arriving on Grand Turk Island from a cruise ship on Tuesday.

Bryan Hagerich, another American who was also arrested in February for allegedly carrying ammunition in his luggage, will appear before a judge on May 3 and is expected to be sentenced shortly thereafter. Ryan Watson hopes his case can be expedited based on the outcome of Hagerich's case.

A GoFundMe page set up for the Watson family had raised more than $175,000 as of Thursday evening.

“I'm completely humbled and feel so incredibly blessed that people have responded so powerfully,” Ryan Watson told CBS News. “I still pray very much that the State Department can help us find a solution to return home.”

Valerie Watson previously told CBS News that the ammunition was accidentally brought to the island.

“Packaging ammunition was not our intention at all,” she said.

Following a CBS News report about Ryan Watson, the State Department sent one on Wednesday tweet American tourists traveling to Turks and Caicos are being warned to check their luggage for stray ammunition and firearms.

Turks and Caicos authorities “strictly enforce all laws related to firearms and ammunition,” the State Department wrote. “Reporting a weapon in your luggage to an airline does not mean you are allowed to take the weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in your arrest.”

Possession of a weapon or ammunition is prohibited in Turks and Caicos Islands. In February, a court order ordered that tourists who previously could only pay a fine also face prison sentences when leaving the country.

At least one gun rights group is urging its members not to travel to Turks and Caicos because of the recent arrests.

“To all U.S. gun owners: Do not travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British overseas territory southeast of the Bahamas, and if you have already made plans, reconsider your destination,” the Second Amendment Association wrote.