Several days back, I wrote about the wild story of an American couple jailed in Mexico, who got arrested over a dispute with a resort. The couple claims that they filed a legitimate $116K credit card dispute with a resort. The resort claims the couple committed fraud, and signed up for 19 different vacation membership packages, and violated rules.
Well, there’s now an update (thanks to Sel, D. for flagging this)…
In this post:
American couple freed from Mexico, charges dropped
In a social media post on Thursday night, Michigan Representative Tom Barrett took to social media, revealing that Paul and Christy Akeo are coming home, and declaring “mission accomplished.” In the video, the couple can be seen boarding a private jet, along with the politician.
Upon arrival back in Michigan, Christy Akeo told reporters that “there’s so many people who have supported us,” and that “I don’t even know how we’re going to repay or thank people.”
The couple had been arrested on March 4, 2025, so their release from jail came after just under a month. The couple claims that all the fraud charges against them have been dropped. However, the state attorney of Quintana Roo revealed that the couple reached an agreement with the vacation ownership company for an amount of money it did not disclose. A judge then dismissed the criminal case and ordered their release.
For what it’s worth, the company had been demanding $250K, a public apology, and an NDA, in order for the couple to be released. It’s not clear how much of that they ended up getting.
I’m curious what kind of a deal was negotiated
I’ve already shared my thoughts on this case, based on the information we have. I mean, there aren’t many businesses that I trust less than timeshare and other vacation ownership company, and I think they’re just a little unethical, to put it mildly.
At the same time, based on the screenshots we had of what the wife was posting in Facebook groups, I think there was some scheming going on there as well.
Now, it sure feels like this should have been a civil case to begin with, rather than something that lands a traveler on an Interpol list. Then again, I also wouldn’t keep vacationing in Mexico if I were being threatened in relation to contracts signed in that country, especially when I’m not familiar with the laws (I mean, I’m not going to Egypt anymore, and all I did is state my opinion, so…).
I would assume that the US negotiated some sort of a deal to have them released, and for this to be dealt with in a way that doesn’t involve jail. I am curious how much the couple ended up paying, because Mexican authorities claim that a financial agreement was reached. I suspect we won’t find out, since this likely involved an NDA.
One thing I’ll never understand is how in these situations, people are often flown home by private jet. I mean, it’s one thing if we’re talking about an American who has been jailed in Russia or North Korea for years, but is it really necessary for the government to provide a private jet to bring home someone from Mexico? It seems like DOGE should look into that, or something…
Bottom line
The American couple who have been jailed in Mexico for the past month have finally returned home, after reportedly paying an undisclosed amount to settle the case. Ultimately I suspect US taxpayers footed much of the bill, in terms of the cost of the private jet that was sent to pick them up…
What do you make of the resolution to this situation?
While I did a little more than glancing at the first write-up at OMAAT and then the second article and how this couple are playing the system to the greedy limits they can go to ....... how is it that they got a private jet back to Michigan? As per usual, the crooks get away with their greedy methods of bucking a system. The millionaires that they are -- how about just moving to Mexico...
While I did a little more than glancing at the first write-up at OMAAT and then the second article and how this couple are playing the system to the greedy limits they can go to ....... how is it that they got a private jet back to Michigan? As per usual, the crooks get away with their greedy methods of bucking a system. The millionaires that they are -- how about just moving to Mexico permanently or some other country and be an ex-pat if you're so unhappy with bitter-cold Michigan (you couldn't give me free housing there!). Ugh! Greed is an ugly thing!
A big piece of this drama is the mistaken belief that disputing a credit card charge (and being successful) somehow ends the contract in dispute. It doesn't. If the charge reversal is permanent, it simply removes the credit card as your form of payment, leaving your account, with the merchant, in arrears. The merchant is then free to go after the customer for the amount due. As a merchant, we have had a handful of...
A big piece of this drama is the mistaken belief that disputing a credit card charge (and being successful) somehow ends the contract in dispute. It doesn't. If the charge reversal is permanent, it simply removes the credit card as your form of payment, leaving your account, with the merchant, in arrears. The merchant is then free to go after the customer for the amount due. As a merchant, we have had a handful of such disputes over the years where a credit card sided with the customer, and we ended up going to small claims court and easily winning...legally. Credit card companies instinctively side with customers (a well-known habit) and it sometimes takes the courts to straighten it out properly.
Generally, the more complex the transaction, the more likely the credit card company will side with the customer. (for better or worse.)
They agreed to about $125k donated to a charitable fund
They probably paid for the charter with their American Express card and when the bill shows up they will probably dispute it.
How do you know that US Taxpayers are paying for the flight?
I would not assume anything if you don't have some kind of knowledge about who paid for the flight.
Like all other extradition/extraction back to US of prisoner/hostage/spy/etc that was paid.
But if you never questioned all those, why question it now?
But help yourself with FOIA for proof while you can until DOGE gets rid of it.
Why? Why Bring them Back?
I imagine Elon was impressed by the magnitude of their scam artistry and sent one his - that is the government's - planes to bring them back to a hero's welcome.
A couple of Rollo Tomasi’s.
Americans travelling overseas. FAFO!
Stay in your own country, Trumptards.
"I don’t even know how we’re going to repay or thank people.”
Based on past experiences, I doubt they will repay anyone.
to be entirely fair, chartering a jet wouldn't seem that out of the ordinary for a couple who spent 1.4mil in timeshares... especially to ensure your safe return home. That isn't a gov jet and the gov doesn't foot those kind of bills so it's likely that they paid for it seeing as the state department was not involved.
Government jets are reserved for government use and diplomats.
Civilian/spies/convicts/ICE uses chartered contractors, and some agency always foot the bills.
If you ever own a 'small' business, you would know spending $1.4M expenses and still can't afford to fly business class is not out of the ordinary.
“I don’t even know how we’re going to repay or thank people.”
They can start by thanking tax payers for the private jet ride and repay money you owe the timeshare.
I fully agree with you about these two returning on a private jet. Why is our government paying for a private jet for these suspected fraudsters? There are dozens of commercial flights every day from Mexico to the US. They should have paid the full cost of their return flights.
I guess these are the kind of folks that our convicted felon-in-chief favors over honest citizens and tax payers.
How do you know the government paid for it?
"Know" -- well, it's the kind of knowledge where you can be confident in part because of the circumstances surrounding it- including a literal congressperson being on the flight.
But when we on the left say we "know", without the proof in front of us, we're not going to storm the capitol and get police killed over it.
They live in Michigan no less. There's like a half-dozen flights per day between Cancun and Detroit.
You keep saying "Now, it sure feels like this should have been a civil case to begin with", but fraud is a crime. And this wasn't a small dollar amount.
Fraud can be civil or criminal or both.
Subtracting out the comments made by people that are just political rants and make no sense I lot of this story is unknown or speculation. If there's an NDA we will probably never know.
But just remember most countries do not have a civil and criminal justice system like we do in the US. Mexico is a corrupt country. The last place I'd buy something/enter into a lease agreement.
I completely agree with you.
The United States is a corrupt country, albeit in a different way.
American criminals deported.
@- Trump and Musk supporter
How were they criminals again?????
Read the news… criminal gringos!