A visit from Senator John Fetterman and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler to a Caribbean nation has paid off.
The Somerset County man arrested in the Turks and Caicos Islands for having 20 rounds of rifle ammunition in his luggage is expected to be released today.
After pleading guilty, Bryan Hagerich was given a suspended sentence of 52 months.
Spokesperson Jonathan Franks says the judge found the case had exceptional circumstances and a lengthy sentence would be arbitrary.
The father of two will also have to pay a $6,700 fine.
Hagerich said he didn't know he brought the hunting ammo on his family vacation.
Fetterman released the following statement: “This is great news. Bryan is coming home to his family. It was an honor to meet Bryan and the other detained Americans in TCI this week.
“When we met with TCI officials a few days ago, they made clear that they wanted this situation resolved. They recognized that Bryan and the other detained Americans are not gunrunners – they are just people who made a mistake. I’m grateful that the judge recognized that the right thing to do was to send Bryan home. I’m also grateful to the U.S. State Department which has been a critical partner in bringing Bryan home.
“I’m hopeful that TCI expedites the rest of these cases and that the other detained Americans will soon be released and reunited with their families as well.”