Michigan couple Paul and Christy Akeo released after being held ‘hostage’ in Mexican prison for nearly a month over timeshare dispute

A Michigan couple who was being held “hostage” in a Mexican prison for nearly a month have been released on Thursday and are heading home.

Navy veteran Paul Akeo and his wife Christy were released after 30 days in custody for allegedly defrauding hospitality company Palace Resorts.

“Paul and Christy Akeo are coming home. Mission accomplished,” Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mi.) wrote in a post to X.

The couple was arrested on March 4 after arriving in Cancun for a vacation where their passports were flagged.

The arrests were seen as a form of retaliation against the couple for challenging charges made on their credit card by a resort during a stay in 2021.

“Make no mistake, what they’re doing is they are holding two Americans hostage because they want them to pay them money,” family lawyer John Manly told CBS last month.

The couple had a timeshare membership with the vacation firm, The Palace Company, and disputed charges totaling $117,000 from Palace Resorts on their credit card around three years ago.

They were being held inside a maximum security prison without bond.

Barrett had flown down to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, meeting with the couple and officials to negotiate their release.

The couple, along with Barrett, were recorded boarding a plane heading back to The Wolverine State.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates