American forced to pay $9,000 ‘ransom’ to leave Turks and Caicos islands a free man

COCKBURN TOWN — A Virginia man was sentenced to time served and fined $9,000 for bringing ammunition to Turks and Caicos, avoiding a potential 12-year sentence under the island’s strict gun laws.

Tyler Wenrich, from Richmond, traveled to Grand Turk on a cruise ship for a bachelor party in late April when ammunition was found in his possession while going through a security checkpoint, police said.

The 911 operator and emergency medical technician has remained on the island since being arrested and pleaded guilty on May 21 to two counts of possession of ammunition, for two 9 mm rounds.

A judge handed down a three-week prison sentence Tuesday morning — which amounted to time served when factoring in the time Wenrich spent in jail following his arrest. The 31-year-old father can return home once he pays a $9,000 fine. He and his wife, who was there for the sentencing, plan to fly home on Thursday, Wenrich said.