Michigan congressman travels to Mexico to aid couple jailed in timeshare dispute

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – A Michigan congressman has flown to Mexico to check on a Spring Arbor couple who were detained in the country over an alleged timeshare dispute.

U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett announced Wednesday morning, April 2, he was on his way to Mexico to check on the welfare of Paul and Christy Akeo, currently jailed amid a claim of fraud by prosecutors in Mexico.

The Spring Arbor couple were arrested in Mexico March 4 shortly after landing in Cancun for a vacation and have been in a maximum security prison since their arrest, Christy Akeo’s daughter Lindsey Hull wrote on social media Monday, March 24.

“I have been in regular contact with their family since I was made aware of their detention and I promised to do everything I could to secure their release and repatriation to America,” Barrett wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Enough is enough, after spending nearly a month in a maximum security Mexican prison over what amounts to a contract dispute on a time-share it’s long overdue for the Mexican authorities to release Paul and Christy,” he wrote.

Hull said her mother and stepfather, a U.S. Navy veteran, challenged wrongful credit card charges made by their hotel, Palace Resorts.

The resort allegedly demanded $250,000, a public apology on Facebook and a non-disclosure agreement, Hull wrote.

When the couple refused, Hull said the couple was arrested.

MLive could not reach Hull for comment.

Authorities in Mexico charged the couple with fraud after they canceled 13 transactions to the hotel chain in a dispute over when the couple could use their timeshare, according to a report on Good Morning America.

Federal authorities, and several elected officials, stated they are aware of the situation but have not disclosed what actions are being taken to bring the couple back to the U.S.

Related: Authorities tight-lipped over efforts to free Michigan couple held in Mexico prison

Barrett initially confirmed the couple’s arrest on social media Monday, adding his team was “doing everything we can to help.”

Mike Rorke, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, whose district includes Jackson County, said their office had been in touch with family, and that officials were “actively working to achieve a resolution.”

The U.S. State Department confirmed the agency was aware of the reports. Its press office said the department takes its “commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously” but declined further comment “due to privacy considerations.”

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters’ office said in a statement it does not publicly discuss ongoing casework matters for the safety and privacy of constituents.

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