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Updated 10:30 p.m. ET: The South Florida Marine veteran who for months was detained at a Mexican prison for bringing an unloaded shotgun into the country has been freed, officials and his lawyer said late Friday.
Jon Hammar is seen in an undated photograph provided by his family.
The attorney for Jon Hammar tweeted Friday night that his client had been released from a detention center in Matamoros, Mexico. U.S. officials were planning to drive the 27-year-old Hammar across the border at Brownsville, Texas.
"He's out. Going home," wrote Eddie Varon Levy in a tweet.
With the judge’s ruling, Hammer was expected to be released after noon Friday, according to a statement from U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Several members of Congress said earlier Friday that a judge had agreed to free Hammar.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's office said in a statement that according to a defense attorney, 27-year-old Jon Hammar was being held at the Matamoros prison on a gun charge, but at a hearing, it was determined he had no intent to commit a crime by taking the firearm to Mexico.
"No American should be in a Mexican jail for five months without being able to have his case in front of a judge," Nelson said Friday. "We're grateful; this is a good Christmas present."
With the judge’s ruling, Hammar was expected to be released after noon Friday, according to U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
NBCMiami.com: Family steps up lobby to get Hammar released
“Our Marine hero, our local hero, will be freed today from a Mexican prison,” Ros-Lehtinen said at a press conference. “He’s been there chained to his bed in terrible condition since August for a trumped-up gun charge that should have never been leveled against him.”
The Marine veteran’s mother notified congressional members of her son’s pending release early Friday. The news was confirmed by a defense lawyer, the State Department and the Mexican embassy, according to spokespeople for Nelson and Ros-Lehtinen.
His mother, Olivia Hammar, called Ros-Lehtinen’s office to say, “Hallelujah! Prayers work and hard work pays off,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
Friday, the U.S. Consulate was standing by to safely escort the former Marine to the United States. Instead of being taken on a plane, Hammar was to be driven across the Mexican border to Texas.
Ros-Lehtinen said the Hammar family is thankful for the community’s support. “He will be home for Christmas,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “The family has been so grateful.”
At his home in Palmetto Bay, Hammar's mother anxiously waited until she was assured he was safe and in the U.S.
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I'm sorry that he had to be jailed for that period of time, but gosh...there are many things that different countries do not want to cross their borders. So, if you cross the border figure it out. Do not bring uncooked, but deliciously cured, ham into the U.S. (most ridiculous rule ever) Or crocodile boots. Or saffron. Go figure.
Mexico has gun control How's that working out?
Apparently, it worked just fine here, which was the gripe.
Unlawful to own guns in Mexico, but they have a higher murder by gun rate than the good ol' USA. So tell me again we should ban guns???? So that only cops and bad guys can have guns?? No Thank You Very Frickin Much. Id rather risk a few crazies than thousands of criminals.
After O'Reilly on Fox News began hi-lighting this scam by the mexicans to extort money from the family, things started happening and within a week this veteran was released.
Thank You Fox News!
I feel a lot of this comes from the Fast and Furious botch job.Thanks to Eric Holder and their underhanded deals with sneaking guns to the Mexican cartel.I don't understand why they would chain him to his cot.The U.S. goverment should get their act togeather.They gave him the paperwork to carry the gun into Mexico,then they wouldn't help getting him released.During the press conference the speaker stated the US goverment had no knowledge of the incident.Bull Crap,this seems to be their defence on everything,we know nothing... Semper Fi
ANYONE that would bring any weapon into a foreign country...............Well if you are going to be dumb....then you had better be tough.............
He's free, but did the Mexican cops give him back his antique shotgun and his motor home? I bet not.
only 223 comments isn't that nice. our government and the people reading the news are just wonderful. the government has election time and could care less and afraid they might look bad along with the media while partying and spending money. the people Reading this story make rued comments and think its a joke. the Mexican government keeps a guy in jail knowing they are violating the Mexican Constitution and just shouldn't have let him in the country in the first place while probably just doing it because they want to extort money from the people that care about him to pay for a Mexican lawyer. and all the time after he served his country and was he thought a good American. now if i was him i wouldn't do a thing for this country and the political pigs that operate it. i get sick of them all and hearing them argue all the time instead of doing their job. and the people. there are only a few that care and the others all as the do is make some mindless jokes about it. this country's politicians are disgusting and some of the people that make comments on this website
I hope there is a follow up story when the Marine reaches his family. Just don't trust this driving to the border instead of flying.
he thought he could get away with it by being white ill bet you that.. i once witnessed a white dude in tijuana with out id trying to go into this club when the bouncer asked him you can't come in he said but im white and the bouncer said so im mexican but you can't come in its a power trip......true story....but in all im glad he is out no one deserves to be in a mexican jail....
A corrupt govt from the very top to the very bottom. Go there at your own risk.
Don't be a moron... the corruption in Mexico is no more prolific than in the United States. It is, however, visible on the surface and therefore more "honest".
Sounds to me like you're afraid to leave your "comfort zone", and wouldn't want to risk any sort of cultural experience.
I've had enough of a "cultural experience" with mexican illegals on this side of la linea thank you.
When I was an active duty Marine, I learned to use my head and make smart decisions in every situation without exception. Taking a shotgun accross the Mexican border is definitely not a smart decision.
While I sympathize with anyone who has been held in jail south of the border, it begs the question: "Are you mental?"
Mexico takes gun laws very seriously, and with just cause. When you have Eric Holder sending military level weaponry by the crate load to the known cartel factions, they (the Mexican Federales) are fighting an uphill battle. This Marine made a bad desicision, and was made an example of. It is nice, however, that he will be home for Christmas.
Feliz Navidad, and Semper Fidelis
Yeah his fault for listening to AMERICAN CUSTOMS OFFICIALS,being a Marine I realize you need to be talked to at 100 decibles or higher to understand the simplest things.
His being a marine shouldn't even be in the article.He wasn't too bright to take a weapon into Mexico in the first place.I'm glad that he is free but let this be a lesson to other Americans that our laws in the U.S. have no bearing in other countries.they have their own laws and people need to abide by them if we expect those coming to the US to abide by our laws.