MI Couple Held In Mexican Prison Over Resort Dispute, Daughter Says

MICHIGAN — A Michigan couple are being held in a maximum-security prison in Mexico after disputing credit card charges at a resort, the couple's daughter said.

Paul and Christy Akeo have been in a Mexican prison since March 4, according to social media posts made by Lindsey Hull, who is Christy Akeo's daughter and Paul Akeo's stepdaughter.

In her posts, Hull said her parents were imprisoned without bond after challenging $100,000 in wrongful credit card charges that were made by The Palace Company, or Palace Resorts with American Express. She added American Express sided with her parents in the dispute.

"The Palace Company is demanding $250,000, the signing of an NDA that does not even guarantee their release, as well as a Facebook post made by our parents to be left up for 1 week claiming all responsibility and fault for the torture they have endured throughout the last 3 weeks," Hull wrote. "If that's not enough, they also demanded a public apology from my mom and Paul to be made to The Palace Company. Absolutely sickening."

Hull said her parents are being denied medical attention and not allowed to communicate with their family and each other, as well as being defamed in the local media.

"Despite asking numerous times to speak to Paul, we have yet to have ANY communication with him," she said. "My mom has 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."

Hull said she has reached out for help from the American Embassy in Mexico and other federal and state agencies, including the FBI and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office.

"We have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars towards Mexican legal representation, but unfortunately that only goes so far when dealing with this level of corruption and extortion," Hull wrote. "We have also met prior demands given to us by The Palace Company and yet they have had no serious response to letting our parents free."

She added her stepfather was a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer who served for 21 years.

The Palace Company told ABC News the couple 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. INTERPOL validated the case and issued a red notice, leading to the Akeos' detention at Cancún Airport on March 4, 2025. A judge has since ruled there is sufficient cause for the case to proceed to trial and ordered the preventive detention of the Akeos," The Palace Company told the news station.

Mexican authorities also told ABC that a video post reportedly from Christy Akeo "described how they committed fraud."

The couple's lawyer told CBS News the dispute against Palace Resorts was closed and the couple is being held "hostage."

“Make no mistake, what they’re doing is they are holding two Americans hostage because they want them to pay them money,” John Manly told the news station.

Michigan U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) said posted on X Monday that he is aware of the situation and working on getting them released.

"I have spoken to their family and assured them that my team and I took immediate action and are doing everything we can to help," Barrett wrote in the post. "I have been in contact and will continue working with the White House, State Department, and law enforcement partners in Michigan to ensure this situation is resolved as urgently and safely as possible."