Pennsylvania man arrested in Turks and Caicos released

SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — After being arrested and spending months in Turks and Caicos, away from his family, a Somerset County man is allowed to come back to the United States.

Sen. John Fetterman (D) announced Friday that a Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) judge announced a 52-week suspended sentence for Bryan Hagerich. Hagerich and other Americans were detained in February for approximately three months for allegedly carrying a small amount of ammunition in their luggage.

“This is great news. Bryan is coming home to his family. It was an honor to meet Bryan and the other detained Americans in TCI this week,” Fetterman said. “When we met with TCI officials a few days ago, they made clear that they wanted this situation resolved. They recognized that Bryan and the other detained Americans are not gunrunners – they are just people who made a mistake. I’m grateful that the judge recognized that the right thing to do was to send Bryan home. I’m also grateful to the U.S. State Department which has been a critical partner in bringing Bryan home.”

Last week Fetterman traveled to Turks and Caicos to meet with Hagerich and the other detained Americans to discuss their cases with TCI officials.

“While I am overjoyed to see Bryan Hagerich will be returning to Pennsylvania and reuniting with his wife and two children, this terrifying situation should have never happened to him, or the four other Americans still awaiting sentencing,” D.C. Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler said. “As the Turks and Caicos government works to handle future cases, the British territory must ensure the safety and well-being of U.S. tourists. I won`t rest until Americans can once again set foot on their islands without putting their livelihoods at risk.”

In addition to the suspended sentence, he’ll have to pay a $6,700 fine, according to CBS News.

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