An American man, Ryan Watson, faced potential imprisonment in Turks and Caicos after unknowingly bringing ammunition into the country.
However, he avoided jail time and was fined $2,000 for the four bullets found in his luggage.
Watson, a father from Oklahoma, pleaded guilty and has been on the islands since his arrest in April.
He expressed relief at the leniency of the sentencing, which allowed him to return home immediately upon paying the fine.
Watson’s case, along with others involving Americans similarly charged, prompted recent amendments to the firearms ordinance in Turks and Caicos, giving courts more discretion in sentencing under “exceptional circumstances.”
