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A Somerset County man is one of several Americans facing more than a decade in prison on a Caribbean Island.

This after custom officials found hunting ammunition accidentally left in their luggage, violating a relatively new law there.

The situation recently making national headlines after the same thing happened to an Oklahoma man.

Both families now unsure when they'll be reunited.

NBC’s Sam Brock spoke with their fathers.

It was the 40th birthday celebration for Ryan Watson, of Oklahoma, celebrated with his wife Valerie and two other couples that went from bliss, to torture, in an instant:

"To not be with my kids,” Watson explained, “To not be home with Valerie right now it's the most awful thing that I have ever lived through at this point."

"...I don't know what's in store for Ryan,” his wife, Valerie said. “I don't know what's going to happen with our kids."

The chain of events started by what Watson says was a simple mistake on a trip to Turks and Caicos two weeks ago.

Not realizing his duffel bag contained deer hunting bullets from a trip months earlier.

"I never recall putting those that ammunition in that bag,” Watson said. But somehow they ended up in there.”

The Turks and Caicos government tightened its laws in 2022 around firearms and ammunition with a mandatory term of imprisonment of not less than 12 years.

Last September the Bahamian Embassy and U.S. governments issued warnings to travelers but the Watsons say they were unaware.

"... I had never, ever intended to bring any type of ammunition into this country."

NBC Boston first broke the story of the couple's detention as their 7- and-9-year-old kids waited for them in Oklahoma City.

".. I was like we can't both be in prison for 12 years! We have kids at home.."

Valerie was released and reunited with her kids, but Ryan can't leave the island.

Another American, Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, is also being detained there and awaiting trial.

The Somerset father of two was arrested in February when authorities found hunting bullets he said he didn't know were in his bag.

"..This has happened to enough individuals already and we certainly don't want to see this happen to anybody else," said Hagerich.

Turks and Caicos officials say eight firearms and ammunition prosecutions have involved U.S. tourists since the law went into effect, that includes an Indiana man, who received a shorter eight-month sentence for exceptional circumstances.

Watson says he's desperate to get home to his family.

"We can't set any type of expectations on when I can be home to those kids. And that is, and will always be my ultimate goal," Watson said.

NBC affiliate WPXI spoke with Hagerich’s wife, Ashley.

She says they have two young kids who haven't been able to see their dad for more than 70 days.

She says they're looking for help wherever they can find it, and adds they've reached out to the U.S. Embassy on the islands and even state lawmakers, including the governor, who tells them there's nothing that can be done.

She’s now asking the public to help in any way they can, saying, “there has to be something that someone can do to bring my husband an my kids' daddy home.”

Hagerich's case goes to trial may third.

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