A Michigan lawmaker traveled to Mexico on Wednesday to meet with a Jackson County couple that has been imprisoned for weeks.
Rep. Tom Barrett met with Paul and Christy Akeo at the Cancun prison where they’ve been held since March 4. They were arrested in connection with fraud allegations over a timeshare dispute with a resort company.
“After landing in Cancun this morning, I traveled directly to the maximum security prison where Paul and Christy Akeo are being held,” Barrett said in a social media post. “I met with them personally for an hour and learned of the horrific conditions they are facing — rubbled walls, overcrowded cells, toilets that don’t flush, and disgusting food. This has left them scared, frustrated, and struggling to find hope. I assured them that I am doing everything I can to urgently secure their safe release.”
The congressman said that he also met with the president of the Quintana Roo Supreme Court.
“Thank you to the U.S. State Department for their assets and support on the ground to end this family’s nightmare, and I hope to have more to share soon,” Barrett said.
After Barrett initially announced that he was heading to Mexico, the couple’s daughter, Lindsey Hull, and her brother, Mike Lemke, released the following statement:
“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Representative Tom Barrett for his courageous action in traveling to Cancun, Mexico to assist in securing the release of our parents from captivity. His dedication, leadership, and willingness to personally intervene in such a critical situation means more to our family than words can express.
Through four straight weeks of fear and uncertainty, Representative Barrett’s commitment to bringing our parents home safely provided us with hope and reassurance. He was the first local representative to simply make a phone call to our family and listen to our horrific situation and offer his assistance. His efforts exemplify his commitment to not only our family, but our community as a whole, and we are forever grateful for his support and determination.
Thank you, Representative Barrett, for standing by us in our time of need. We are all hoping The Chapur Family and The Palace Company will make the correct decision in releasing our parents and putting an end to the unjust process they have forced our parents to endure.”
Lindsey Hull and Mike Lemke
The allegations stem from a timeshare agreement they signed with Palace Resorts. Monthly charges had been made on a credit card, but the hotel learned that the couple allegedly disputed the charges, totaling more than $116,000.
Hull said that her parents were being held for “simply challenging wrongful credit card charges made by the Palace Company,” and claimed that American Express sided with the Akeos in this dispute.
