JACKSON, Mich. — A Jackson, Michigan, couple decided to go to Cancun for a spring break trip. But instead of being greeted by sunshine and palm trees as they walked off the plane, they were greeted by law enforcement waiting with handcuffs.
This would be just the start of the next “21 days of torture” in a maximum-security Mexican prison, their daughter says.
It all started because Christy and Paul Akeo, a middle-class pair of grandparents, had a yearslong membership with Palace Resorts. It’s a company based in Florida that owns a number of resorts and time-shares in Mexico.
But Christy’s daughter and Paul’s stepdaughter, Lindsey Hull, said Palace Resorts breached their contract two or three years ago.
The couple then disputed the membership charge with their credit card, American Express, over that breach of contract. After months of back and forth, American Express sided with the Akeos.
The dispute was said to be over 13 payments spanning from August to November 2022 that totaled a sum of $116,587. That amount was returned to the Akeos after hiring a lawyer.
When the money was returned and the membership was cancelled, the Akeos returned to Cancun one to three times over the next couple years with no issues, Hull said. They figured the dispute was behind them.
It was not. Customs officials claimed the couple had outstanding charges of criminal fraud and sent them straight to jail. That was 21 days ago.
“I was at a hair appointment, and I got a call from my stepdad that they were being detained in the Cancun Airport,” said Hull. “It’s a situation that you never really think would happen to you.”
Mexican authorities say Christy went against their contract with Palace Resorts and “spread the word on Facebook about how they committed the fraud against the hotel chain,” a translated release from the Attorney General’s Office of Quintana Roo says.
The Palace Company shared a statement about the case on Wednesday:
“The Palace Company subsidiary, Palace Elite, filed a criminal complaint with Mexican authorities after Paul and Christy Akeo 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.”
“American Express has sided with my parents based on the sufficient evidence that they were able to provide. Palace Resorts was not able to provide sufficient enough evidence to prove their case, which is a perfect example that this is retaliation against my parents,” said Hull.
Hull says her parents are being denied medical attention and proper communication with loved ones. She says they are being publicly defamed by Palace Resorts and Mexican media.
“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 explained.
“I think it’s much more horrific than what we’ll ever understand, because we’re not in her shoes, we’re not in their shoes.”
Hull says she’s spoken to Paul once in three weeks. No one’s been able to contact him since.
Paul, 60, is a 21-year veteran of the US Navy and currently works for the Michigan State Police.
“The lack of action from our own government officials to help an innocent veteran who proudly served our country is unacceptable,” she said.
Hull says Palace Resorts is demanding $250,000, signatures from the couple on a non-disclosure agreement and public apologies, claiming Paul and Christy are completely responsible for the situation.
Hull said even this would not guarantee their release.
“They also stated in this agreement that when they get back to the U.S., if they were to ever speak about this, or if anybody on their behalf was ever to speak about it, my parents would each owe them $1 million for every time it was brought up,” said Hull.
The Mexican State Attorney General called their arrest a “precautionary measure” and “justified preventive detention.”
At the last court hearing, the judge granted Palace Resorts six more months to gather evidence. That means it could take at least six months before their release.
No trial date has been set yet.
Hull says her family is spending “thousands upon thousands” in legal representation and hours translating court documents from Spanish to English.
“They have put us through three weeks of absolute hell,” said Hull.
In the meantime, Hull has taken to calling the US Consulate, US Embassy, the FBI, the Governor’s Office, US senators’ offices, Michigan State Police and more to try to get attention on their case.
Hull was a two-time national champion gymnast at Michigan State University. She was a survivor of Larry Nassar, a disgraced former gymnastics doctor who confessed to serial child molestation of gymnasts. Hull spoke out against the abuse in court.
Seven years later, she’s facing a legal nightmare involving her parents.
Hull is asking everyone to share her Facebook posts about the situation and call their representatives.
“We need help from our government,” she said. “We need them to realize that there are two innocent Americans being held hostage in a Mexican prison over a timeshare dispute and by them not acting and doing anything about it, they are allowing Mexico to do that.”
Congressman Tom Barrett, who represents Michigan’s 7th District, said he’s working with the White House, State Department and law enforcement partners to resolve the situation.
Today, I was made aware of the situation involving two of my constituents, Paul and Christy Akeo, who were arrested by Mexican police. 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…
— Congressman Tom Barrett (@RepTomBarrett) March 24, 2025
Watch the video Mexican authorities released of their arrest here: