Lt. Ridge Alkonis, a US Navy officer who was convicted of negligent driving resulting in the death of two people in Japan, has been transferred to US custody and is on his way home, according to a statement released by his family on Thursday.

After spending 507 days in a Japanese prison, Alkonis' family expressed their relief that he is on his way back to the United States. However, they emphasized that their celebration would only come once he is reunited with his loved ones.

Two US officials confirmed that Alkonis is now under US custody. The transfer was reportedly facilitated through the direct engagement of Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Alkonis is being brought back to the US under an international prisoner convention that allows individuals to complete their remaining confinement in their home country.

Upon his arrival, Alkonis will face the US parole commission within the Department of Justice. This entity will review his case and determine any further confinement or punishment. The parole commission process is expected to take several months, during which they will assess Alkonis' prison sentence in Japan and consider what would have been done if the incident had occurred in the US. It is possible that he may be placed under home custody.

The Department of Justice has expressed its willingness to assist the parole commission by providing information regarding the complexity of the diplomacy involved, Alkonis' military record, and his conduct as a prisoner. They have assured that they are available to offer any relevant details deemed appropriate by the commission.

Lt. Ridge Alkonis was sentenced in October 2021 to three years in a Japanese prison for negligent driving that led to the death of two individuals and injuries to another person in May 2021. Alkonis claimed that he suffered from acute mountain sickness, causing him to lose consciousness while driving with his family near Mount Fuji. However, the court rejected this argument, and his appeal was denied in July 2022.

The Alkonis family has steadfastly maintained that Ridge was not negligent, but rather ill, and therefore committed no crime. They have also offered the victims' families over $1 million in restitution, following Japanese customs.

Throughout the legal proceedings, the Alkonis family has raised concerns regarding the alleged violation of the status of forces agreement between the United States and Japan. They advocated for Alkonis to be transferred back to the United States under the Council of Europe (COE) Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which permits individuals to serve their sentences in their home country.

The transfer process under the COE Convention can take up to two years or even longer. In August, twenty Republican senators wrote to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, urging the Japanese government to consider expelling Alkonis. They argued that the full nature of the situation had not been adequately taken into consideration and highlighted a Navy investigation that concluded Alkonis lost consciousness due to acute mountain sickness.

Alkonis' family expressed their gratitude for the efforts of the U.S. government to secure his transfer and expressed hope that an impartial review of his case would be conducted for the first time by the Department of Justice. They trust that justice will be served promptly, allowing Ridge to spend the holidays at home with his wife and children.

As of now, the date of Lt. Ridge Alkonis' arrival in the United States has not been disclosed.