New developments have emerged in the effort to secure the release of a Michigan couple who remain incarcerated in Cancun, Mexico, due to fraud allegations.
The U.S. Department of State is reportedly elevating its case as officials work to assist Paul and Christy Akeo.
Mexican authorities allege the Akeos knowingly defrauded a hotel chain when they purchased a timeshare.
However, the family insists that this situation is a misunderstanding.
U.S. Dept. of State involvement
The U.S. Department of State is actively involved, and the couple is reportedly receiving the necessary assistance.
In the past 48 hours, the case has had significant movement. The couple has been detained for over three weeks, and Michigan Congressman Tom Barrett’s office has been in close contact with the situation.
The U.S. Consulate General in Mérida is now engaged and met with the Akeos on Monday (March 24).
A liaison for the State Department confirmed that all appropriate services are being provided to the American couple.
The couple’s detention stems from a contract they signed to buy a timeshare in November 2021.
Monthly charges were made on a credit card, but between August and November 2022, the hotel learned that the couple disputed charges totaling more than $116,000.
Allegations and social media
Mexican authorities also stated that Christy had allegedly shared information on social media about how they had broken their contract.
In a related development, the couple’s daughter, Lindsey Hull, has been vocal on social media about their situation.
She described her parents’ predicament as being held captive for “simply challenging wrongful credit card charges made by the Palace Company.”
Hull claims that American Express sided with her parents in this dispute.
Court records reveal that the couple has faced financial difficulties, with Christy filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2020 and the pair later filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy last summer.
The Palace Company doubles down on the allegation
Company representative Michael Padovano released a statement on the incident.
“The Palace Company subsidiary, Palace Elite, filed a criminal complaint with Mexican authorities after Paul and Christy Akeo fraudulently disputed legitimate credit card charges and publicly encouraged others to do the same. Mexican prosecutors reviewed the evidence and, following failed attempts to serve notice, obtained a court-approved arrest warrant. INTERPOL validated the case and issued a red notice, leading to the Akeos’ detention at Cancún Airport on March 4, 2025. A judge has since ruled there is sufficient cause for the case to proceed to trial and ordered the preventive detention of the Akeos.”
Company representative Michael Padovano
