Couple freed from Mexican prison arrive in Lansing
After spending a month behind bars in a Mexican prison over a timeshare dispute, a mid-Michigan couple has been released and are on their way back home.
Paul and Christy Akeo boarded a plane Thursday evening and are expected to arrive at Lansing Capitol Region International Airport around 11:30 p.m.
Video posted by The Daily Mail shows the Akeos and U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) on a plane back to Michigan. They thanked President Trump for helping secure their release.
“Thank you so much President Trump,” Christy Akeo said. “We appreciate it more than you even know.”
Their release comes one day after Barrett visited the Jackson County couple and urged Mexican officials for their release. Video posted on Barrett’s X social media page showed the Akeos boarding a plane with the message: “Paul and Christy Akeo are coming home. Mission accomplished.”
Paul and Christy Akeo are coming home. Mission accomplished. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lZFJCsD0FO
— Congressman Tom Barrett (@RepTomBarrett) April 4, 2025
The couple was arrested shortly after arriving in Cancun for a vacation on March 4. Mexican authorities said the Akeos were being detained in a maximum security prison without bond on criminal charges of fraud.
Paul, a Navy veteran who now works for the Michigan State Police, and Christy, a retired small-business owner, bought a timeshare membership with Palace Elite Resorts in 2021. The company pressed charges and says the Akeos cancelled nearly $117,000 in credit card charges. The Akeo’s attorney, John Manley, said American Express investigated the credit card charges and resolved it in their favor.
Their daughter, Lindsey Lemke Hull, denied the fraud allegations. She posted a plea on Facebook that received international attention.
Hull said Palace Elite Resorts offered a settlement if the couple apologized, paid $250,000 and signed a non-disclosure agreement. The family called that settlement offer extortion.
Hull says she was concerned for her parent’s health and the lack of medical care they were receiving while behind bars. She said her mother “lost 25 lbs. in 20 days due to inability to eat as the prison is serving her food they are aware she is allergic to. She also has a severe rash all over her body they refuse to treat.”
Congressman Barrett met with the Akeos and Mexican authorities Wednesday. In a social media post, Barrett wrote that he met with the Akeos for about an hour and described the conditions at Prison Cereso Cancun as “...rubbled walls, overcrowded cells, toilets that don’t flush, and disgusting food.” He said he was working with the White House and State Department to free them.
After landing in Cancun this morning, I traveled directly to the maximum security prison where Paul and Christy Akeo are being held. I met with them personally for an hour and learned of the horrific conditions they are facing — rubbled walls, overcrowded cells, toilets that… pic.twitter.com/zmMvbYGhJO
— Congressman Tom Barrett (@RepTomBarrett) April 2, 2025
The Palace Company said in a statement that there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. “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.”
After arriving at Capital Region Internation Airport early Friday, Congressman Barrett shared that all charges brought against the Akeos in Mexico have been dropped.
WILX will have the full story LIVE at News 10 at 11.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Our previous coverage is below:
A court hearing is being held for a Michigan couple jailed in Mexico.
WILX confirmed the ongoing court hearing after speaking with Michigan Congressman Tom Barrett’s office.
Jackson County couple Paul and Christy Akeo have been in a Cancun jail since March 4. The couple was flying to the popular travel destination for a vacation. Their daughter, Lindsey Hull, says the couple was immediately detained by Mexican officials as soon as they stepped off the plane.
The couple returned alongside Michigan Congressman Tom Barrett after the lawmaker visited Mexico, calling for the two’s release.
READ MORE:
- Attorney says efforts to return couple held in Mexican prison to U.S. are underway
- Michigan couple held in max-security Mexican prison for 20+ days, daughter says
- Rep. Tom Barrett visiting Mexico to call for release of jailed Michigan couple
Barrett traveled to Mexico to meet with Mexican officials and the Akeos on Wednesday, April 2.
The lawmaker’s office hopes the court will release the Akeos.
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