In a major development, a judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has issued a suspended 52-month sentence to Bryan Hagerich, a Pennsylvania father of two and former professional baseball player. Hagerich pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition on the TCI, a crime that carries a potential punishment of up to 12 years in prison.

Hagerich, along with four other Americans, was arrested and detained on the islands in February for having stray ammunition in their luggage. The other individuals involved are Ryan Watson from Oklahoma, Sharitta Grier from Florida, Tyler Wenrich from Virginia, and Michael Lee Evans from Texas.

Hagerich's spokesperson, Jonathan Franks, announced in a tweet that he will be released shortly. In addition to the suspended sentence, Hagerich has been ordered to pay a fine of $6,500.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Hagerich expressed his relief and anticipation to return home to his family in Pennsylvania. He acknowledged the support and prayers he has received from his loved ones, as well as from well-wishers worldwide.

The judge's decision to impose a suspended sentence has received widespread praise from several politicians. Democratic Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey hailed Hagerich's imminent return as "great news." Republican Pennsylvania Representative Guy Reschenthaler expressed his joy at the development but emphasized the need for stricter measures to ensure the safety of U.S. tourists in TCI.

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also celebrated the outcome, expressing gratitude to the judge for recognizing that Hagerich and the other detained Americans had made a mistake and should be allowed to return home. Fetterman expressed hope that the remaining cases would be expedited and that the other detained Americans would soon be reunited with their families as well.

The circumstances surrounding the arrests of Hagerich, Watson, Grier, Wenrich, and Evans are similar, as they were all found with stray ammunition in their luggage while returning home. Hagerich had leftover ammunition from a hunting trip, Watson had stray ammo in the lining of his carry-on bag, Grier had purchased a firearm for self-defense and had bullets in the lining of her bag, and Wenrich was unaware of the two bullets in his travel backpack.

Reschenthaler, determined to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, is pushing for a no-travel order to TCI, which would impact tourism and prompt the territory to reconsider its laws. Reschenthaler argues that the law treating Americans with stray ammunition as potential weapons smugglers or gun runners is excessive, especially considering that none of the detainees had firearms.

A bipartisan congressional delegation visited TCI recently to advocate for the release of the detained Americans. However, the TCI Governor's Office declined their request to meet with the Chief Justice, citing the need to maintain the integrity of the legal process.

While the judge's decision brings relief to Hagerich and his family, concerns remain about the impact on TCI's tourism industry, which heavily relies on visitors from the United States. The hope is that a resolution can be reached that prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of both American tourists and TCI residents.