Couple held hostage in Mexican jail after disputing credit card bill on holiday
Grandparents Christy and Paul Ake were detained at the airport over a bill settled months ago with American Express.
A couple who flew to Cancun for a luxury getaway were hauled off to a maximum-security prison and "held hostage" after disputing a series of charges made on their credit card.
Grandparents Christy and Paul Ake arrived in Mexico on March 4 but as they made their way through customs they realised staff had flagged their passports.
They were arrested on outstanding criminal fraud charges and remain in the foreign prison 23 days on without bond.
Christy’s daughter, Lindsey Hull, claims her mum and stepdad were arrested in “retaliation” after disputing charges totalling £90,000 on their American Express card by The Palace Company - a luxury, all-inclusive hospitality conglomerate with resorts in Mexico and Jamaica, the Mirror reports.
The couple had a membership with the Florida-based company, owned by Palace Resorts, but said things went south when they voiced concerns about discrepancies in their agreement a number of months ago.
American Express sided with the couple after they raised a complaint and returned their money as well as cancelling their membership with The Palace Company.
The couple have travelled to Cancun a number of times with no issue until now.
Daughter Lindsey Hull wrote on Facebook: "The last 21 days of torture my parents have been through is a direct response of The Palace Company’s corruption, extortion, retaliation and blackmail against our parents."
“If that’s not enough, they also demanded a public apology from my mom and Paul to be made to The Palace Company. Absolutely sickening."
She claims the company is “demanding” £193,000 - and for the couple to sign a nondisclosure agreement “that does not even guarantee their release.”
“The lawyer representing Christy and Paul, John Manly, said the case was closed but the couple were still being held “hostage.” He told CBS: “Make no mistake, what they’re doing is they are holding two Americans hostage because they want them to pay them money.”
Lindsey claims her mum and Paul — a US Navy Veteran with over 21 years of service and currently working for the Michigan State Police — are “being denied medical attention, denied proper communication and publicly defamed.”
She said: “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.”
The couple have already appeared in court in Mexico over the charges. At their last hearing the courts gave Palace Resorts six more months to gather evidence and denied the Akeo's request for house arrest, ordering them to remain in jail until then.
The family have contacted the American embassy in Mexico for help, and other federal and state agencies, including the FBI and Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Office. US Rep. Politician Tom Barrett, who represents Michigan’s 7th District, said he had spoken to the couple's family and is working to resolve the issue "urgently".