Michigan couple wrongfully held in Mexican prison for 3 weeks during Cancun vacation, daughter says
JACKSON COUNTY, Mich. (WILX/Gray News) – A Michigan couple has spent three weeks in a maximum-security prison in Cancun for what their daughter says is wrongful detainment.
Paul and Christy Akeo were apprehended by Mexican authorities on March 4 after arriving in Cancun for a planned vacation. The couple is from Spring Arbor, Michigan.
According to a Mexican news report, the couple was arrested immediately when they arrived at the Cancun International Airport.
The couple is accused of defrauding a Cancun resort for more than $100,000 in unpaid resort fees.
But their daughter, Lindsey Hull, said her mother and her stepfather were wrongfully arrested and is pleading for their return home.
The Palace Company/Palace Resorts said the Akeos owe more than $100,000 in unpaid resort fees dating back to credit card charges made in 2021.
According to the Mexican news report, police said the Akeos signed a contract in November 2021 to purchase a membership to Palace Resorts, which granted them benefits of various rates and products. They signed up for the monthly payments to be made with a credit card, but the resort was later notified in 2022 that the Akeos had canceled 13 credit card transactions totaling $116,587.00.
Hull said, however, that her parents never used those resort services. The Akeos disputed the credit card charges with American Express, and the credit card company sided with the couple and canceled the charges, Hull said.
Hull said her parents believed the issue was resolved and the unpaid charges had been taken care of by American Express.
But upon arriving in Cancun for a vacation this month, it was clear the charges were not resolved when the Akeos were arrested.
“The last 21 days of being held captive is a direct result of my parents simply challenging wrongful credit card charges made by The Palace Company, aka Palace Resorts with American Express. American Express sided with my mom and Paul as a response to these wrongful charges,” Hull said in a statement.
Hull continued to say that her parents are being denied proper care while in the Mexican prison.
“My mom and Paul are being denied medical attention, denied proper communication and publicly defamed,” she wrote in the statement. “They have been held captive in prison for 21 days and despite asking numerous times to speak to Paul, we have yet to have ANY communication with him. My mom has lost 25 lbs. in 20 days due to inability to eat as the prison is serving her food they are aware she is allergic to. She also has a severe rash all over her body they refuse to treat.”
Hull said she has brought these concerns to the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate, the FBI, the U.S. Senate, Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Office, Michigan senators, as well as Michigan State Police.
“These are all concerns that have been brought up numerous times to the US Consulate over the last 3 weeks, yet they failed to have any sort of visit with my parents until 17 DAYS into their imprisonment,” Hull said. “In other words, the US Consulate and the US Embassy have been nothing short of useless.”
Michigan Congressman Tom Barrett, who represents the Akeos, confirmed the couple’s arrest. He issued a statement, saying:
“Today, I was made aware of the situation involving two of my constituents, Paul and Christy Akeo, who were arrested by Mexican police. I have spoken to their family and assured them that my team and I took immediate action and are doing everything we can to help. I have been in contact and will continue working with the White House, State Department, and law enforcement partners in Michigan to ensure this situation is resolved as urgently and safely as possible.”
Christy Akeo is a mom and a grandmother who helps deliver groceries in her free time. Paul Akeo previously served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years and currently works for Michigan State Police.
Hull and her brother are doing everything they can to get their parents home. They have hired legal representation in both Mexico and the United States.
As for what’s next, Hull said at her parent’s hearing on March 10, the Palace Resort was given six months to gather more evidence.
According to the Mexican news report, a Cancun judge ordered the Akeos to remain in custody for the duration of their legal proceedings.
Hull said there is no trial date set, meaning her parents are in prison indefinitely.
Palace Resorts has not yet responded to WILX for comment.
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