Michigan grandparents Paul and Christy Akeo have been imprisoned in a Mexican maximum-security prison for over 21 days after a credit card dispute with a Florida-based timeshare company escalated to international fraud charges and an INTERPOL red notice.
Key Insights
- The Michigan couple was arrested on March 4, 2025, at Cancun airport while on a family vacation, accused of “fraud to a hotel chain” after disputing $117,000 in credit card charges from Palace Elite Resorts.
- American Express sided with the Akeos and refunded them over $100,000, which Mexican authorities later characterized as “maliciously” canceling transactions.
- A Facebook post by Christy Akeo advising others on how to dispute timeshare charges was cited by Mexican authorities as evidence of fraud.
- The family claims the resort company, Palace Elite Resorts, offered a settlement of $250,000, a non-disclosure agreement, and a public apology, which they declined, calling it “extortion.”
- U.S. Representative Tom Barrett is working with the White House and State Department to secure the couple’s release, while the family has requested President Trump’s intervention.
American Couple Detained Over Timeshare Dispute
Paul and Christy Akeo, grandparents from Michigan, remain detained in a Mexican prison after being arrested on March 4, 2025, at Cancun International Airport. The couple was beginning what should have been a family vacation when Mexican authorities took them into custody based on fraud accusations from Palace Elite, a subsidiary of Palace Resorts. The charges stem from a credit card dispute involving $117,000 in charges that American Express had previously refunded to the couple after determining they were wrongfully charged.
The Akeos are being held at Prison Cereso Cancún in Quintana Roo, Mexico, where their family reports they have received inadequate food and medical care. A Mexican judge has granted the timeshare company six additional months to gather evidence while the couple remains behind bars. This decision has intensified concerns about their well-being and the legitimacy of the charges against them.
Credit Card Dispute Leads to Fraud Charges
The legal troubles began when the Akeos disputed charges from Palace Elite Resorts after claiming the company failed to deliver promised services. After reviewing their case, American Express sided with the couple and refunded them over $100,000. This financial decision later became central to the fraud accusations against them. Mexican authorities characterized the refund as “the cancellation of 13 transactions” done “maliciously,” despite the credit card company’s determination that the charges were improper.
“American Express found for the Akeos, found for Lindsay’s parents, and refunded them over $100,000 of wrongful charges,” stated John Manly, the family’s attorney.
Further complicating matters, Christy Akeo had shared advice on Facebook about disputing timeshare charges, which Mexican authorities later cited as evidence of fraud. Her post included instructions to report credit cards as lost or stolen and to stop making monthly payments, advice that Palace Elite Resorts claims encouraged others to fraudulently dispute legitimate charges.
Family Fighting for Release
The couple’s daughter, Lindsey Lemke Hull, a former national champion gymnast and survivor of Dr. Larry Nassar, has been actively advocating for her parents’ release. She describes her mother’s emotional state as deteriorating rapidly during their imprisonment. Hull has been receiving daily phone calls from her mother, who remains separated from her husband while in detention.
“[My mom is] terrified. She tells us every single day, every single phone call how scared she is. She obviously cries a lot,” said Lindsey Hull.
The family believes the couple is being made an example of by the timeshare company. They claim Palace Elite Resorts offered a settlement of $250,000, a non-disclosure agreement, and a public apology in exchange for dropping the charges. The Akeos rejected this offer, with their family characterizing it as extortion. Hull has been vocal about what she perceives as corruption in the Mexican legal system and the resort company’s exploitation of it.
U.S. Government Response
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged awareness of the case but has limited its public comments, citing privacy concerns. Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan has taken up the cause, working directly with the family and various government agencies to secure the Akeos’ release. The family has also requested intervention from President Trump as the situation continues without resolution.
“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. 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,” said Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.
The Akeos’ attorney maintains that the fraud charges are baseless and stem solely from the couple’s legitimate dispute with the timeshare company and their public criticism of its practices. As diplomatic efforts continue, the family remains concerned about the couple’s health and safety in the Mexican prison system, where they could potentially remain for months during the investigation.
“The Akeos are being held because they successfully disputed Palace’ charges and failure to deliver services with American Express, criticized the Company on Facebook and alerted others who felt wronged by Palace,” stated Akeo family attorney John Manly.
