American Tyler Wenrich, 31, from Virginia, was sentenced to three weeks in jail and fined $9,000 after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. The court recognized his three weeks already served, completing his prison sentence. Wenrich had faced a potential 12-year prison term, but Hon. Justice Davidson Baptiste cited exceptional circumstances, ruling the mandatory minimum sentence would be disproportionate.
Wenrich was arrested on April 23 when two 9mm bullets were found in his bag at a security checkpoint. He described the incident as an oversight, having used the bag for previous trips to a shooting range. Wenrich paid bail in early May and spent three nights in jail before being moved to a prison for nine additional nights.
In recent months, five Americans have been arrested in the Turks and Caicos for possession of ammunition. Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania received a 52-week suspended sentence and a $6,700 fine. Michael Lee Evans was allowed to return to the U.S. due to a medical situation and will need to return for further hearings. Another American, Sharitta Shinese Grier, is awaiting trial.
The Turks and Caicos mandates a 12-year minimum sentence for firearm or ammunition possession, though exceptions can apply. The government clarified that U.S. citizens are not specifically targeted, with only seven of 195 firearm-related sentences over six years involving Americans.