By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-25 12:06:45 | Updated at 2024-10-02 00:28:30
6 days ago
An Air Force veteran has thanked 'everyone who fought' for his freedom and is grateful to be back 'standing on American soil' after he and his brother were released from prison in Dubai.
Joseph Lopez, the current Mr Louisiana title holder, and his brother Joshua were sentenced to a month in jail for drinking alcohol on a yacht in June. The brothers claimed they were drugged during a party.
The pair have now arrived home in Ohio after enduring a four-month 'nightmare' in the UAE, legal advocacy group Detained in Dubai revealed Tuesday. Vice Presidential hopeful Sen. JD Vance was reportedly 'highly supportive' in their case.
Lopez, a B-52 mechanic and Honor Guardsman, was all smiles when he landed in Los Angeles and has hailed his return home as 'a day I will never forget'.
He left the military roughly 10 months ago and began advocating for mental health on social media with fans saying he 'tries to inspire and make people laugh and feel related to'.
The influencer was also being considered for the prestigious Mr USA title and had jetted out to the UAE with Joshua for a two-week-long trip before he was meant to begin his preparations for the beauty pageant.
Air Force veteran Joseph Lopez (pictured after his release from jail in Dubai) has thanked 'everyone who fought' for his freedom and says he is grateful to be 'standing on American soil'
Joseph Lopez (left) and his brother Joshua (right) were sentenced to a month in jail for drinking alcohol on a yacht in June. The brothers claimed they were drugged during a party
Lopez, sporting a huge smile, shared a video on Instagram, apparently captured after he arrived on American soil Tuesday.
'Somehow got pulled out of a Middle Eastern prison, sat in deportation for hours, flew halfway across the world and now in Los Angeles.. all without sleeping yet.. what a strange day this has been,' he captioned the clip.
The influencer, in a separate post Wednesday positioned as a letter to Dubai, revealed that he and Joshua had been released from prison and expressed his gratitude for the outpour of support that the pair had received.
'You tried to steal my future, took my entire life savings and put me into debt, drug my family through this mess, jailed me, imprisoned me…' he wrote.
'I just lived something that is going to sound like a movie to many, and now I will share my experience with you to the world, and the experience of others who do not deserve such things…
'To everyone who fought for my freedom, thank you from the bottom of my heart, yesterday we were in prison, and now we are standing on American soil, thank you to all those who didn't give up on us .'
Radha Stirling, Crisis Manager and CEO of Detained in Dubai who represented the family, announced the pair's return home on Tuesday night.
Lopez, a B-52 mechanic and Honor Guardsman, was all smiles when he landed in Los Angeles and has hailed his return home as 'a day I will never forget'
The influencer, in a separate Instagram post Wednesday positioned as a letter to Dubai, revealed that he and Joshua had been released from prison and expressed his gratitude for the outpour of support that the pair had received
He wrote: You tried to steal my future, took my entire life savings and put me into debt, drug my family through this mess, jailed me, imprisoned me…'
'I am pleased to announce veteran Joseph Lopez and his brother, Joshua have arrived safely in Ohio after a short Dubai vacation turned into a terrible nightmare,' she said in a statement Tuesday.
She explained how the brothers were jailed after being 'lured' and 'drugged' by locals who invited them to a yacht party.
'The brothers were sentenced to prison time consuming alcohol (1 drink) onboard the yacht and for the state they were in following the knock out drugs given to them immediately upon boarding the yacht. It is unlikely any of the people involved in this incident will be charged and highly likely they will continue targeting tourists.'
Stirling further thanked Vance for advocating on behalf of the Lopez brothers.
'I thank Senator JD Vance who was highly supportive of his constituents and keen to get them home as fast as possible,' she wrote.
'With the combined support of Senator Vance and a strong campaign, the Lopez brothers managed to escape the prison sentence they'd been served. Without such an effective campaign, they would likely have been locked up for a minimum of 6 months which could have expanded to 2 years or more.
'I am truly happy to see these wonderful men home and safe with their families. It's been a privilege to help them achieve their well deserved freedom.'
Vance was in 'constant communication with the State Department, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States and the constituents' family' throughout the ordeal and had been 'monitoring the legal proceedings carefully', his spokesperson told Fox News last month.
The brothers have now arrived home in Ohio after enduring a four-month 'nightmare' in the UAE, legal advocacy group Detained in Dubai revealed Tuesday. Pictured: Lopez pictured in Dubai in an Instagram post, uploaded on May 27
Lopez and Joseph travelled to the UAE on May 25 and on June 2 visited a popular Dubai club called Bla Bla, but the night ended in unexpected horror. Pictured: Joseph Lopez with his dog
Lopez and Joseph travelled to the UAE on May 25 and on June 2 visited a popular Dubai club called Bla Bla, but the night ended in unexpected horror.
An Uber reportedly approached the brothers while they stood outside the club and suggested the pair attend an after party at a nearby hotel.
Lopez and Joshua agreed to the offer and were taken directly to the VIP section where they were presented with platters of food, sparklers, and drinks that the brothers had not requested.
Around 20 minutes later, as the venue was closing, Lopez was reportedly handed a bill that he paid in full - despite feeling as if he had been scammed.
'Uber drivers and other promoters are paid by some venues to bring tourists in,' Stirling explained in a statement last month.
'In this case, it appears they have gone a step further by forcing food and beverages onto them while making them appear to be free'.
Despite Lopez's suspicions rising following his hefty, unexpected bill, he explained how he was then invited to a yacht by a partygoer before explaining he was 'done spending for the night'.
The brothers were 'lured' and 'drugged' by locals who invited them to a yacht party. They were sentenced to prison time for consuming alcohol onboard. Pictured: Joseph Lopez
Vice Presidential hopeful and Ohio Sen JD Vance (left) was in 'constant communication with the State Department, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States and the constituents' family' throughout the ordeal and had been 'monitoring the legal proceedings carefully'. Pictured right: Joseph Lopez in his military uniform
But the unnamed man persevered - telling Lopez and Joshua that they would be his 'American guests'.
Ultimately, the brother's agreed and once they boarded the luxury vessel, they were provided with a drink that staff later attempted to charge them over $2,700 for - but Lopez refused several times.
The social media influencer then claimed he and his brother began feeling strange, before they were allegedly confronted by a group of Arabic speaking men donning black ski masks.
They tried to throw the brothers into the back of a vehicle and Lopez admitted he thought they were being abducted.
'They didn't realize the men were plain clothed police officers', Stirling explained.
'Plain clothed police officers often forcefully approach tourists, grab them and intimidate them without identifying themselves.
'Of course the tourist is going to defend themselves to what they perceive to be assault or worse. They end up unfairly being charged with resisting arrest or assault of a police officer'.
The terrified brothers were taken to Al Barsha where they were held overnight and detained until June 12.
The terrified brothers were taken to Al Barsha where they were held overnight and detained until June 12. They had told officers upon arrival that they had been drugged but police allegedly refused to test them. Pictured: Joseph Lopez
The pair were reportedly not breathalyzed for at least 24 hours, but several days later, authorities took a urine sample - once any drug residue had left their bodies, reports say
They had told officers upon arrival that they had been drugged but police allegedly refused to test them.
The pair were reportedly not breathalyzed for at least 24 hours, but several days later, authorities took a urine sample - once any drug residue had left their bodies.
'Police usually take samples immediately on arrival to preserve evidence against the detainee,' Stirling said.
'It's highly unusual and suspicious to wait several days for a test, particularly when they have been told about the concerns'.
According to Lopez, fellow cellmates revealed to the brothers that it is common in Dubai for visitors to be drugged on purpose and taken advantage of.
Joseph and Joshua were given bail with a travel ban on June 12. They were not allowed to leave the country - despite the pair not being officially charged with any offences.
The pair were sentenced in August to a month in jail and have now been released.
Joseph (pictured) and Joshua were given bail with a travel ban on June 12. They were not allowed to leave the country - despite the pair not being officially charged with any offences
The pair were sentenced in August to a month in jail and have now been released. Pictured is Joseph Lopez
Stirling has warned that the Lopez brothers' situation should served as a 'warning to tourists who are under the mistaken belief that the UAE is completely safe'.
'We are told repeatedly that Dubai is crime free, that you can leave your mobile phone on the bar bench and it won't be stolen, but what of more serious but undisclosed crime?' she said in Tuesday's statement.
'Apprentice star Selina Waterman-Smith was abducted and gang raped by three men. Joseph and Joshua were targeted, lured and drugged while trying to enjoy a harmless vacation. This kind of crime is only spoken about when raised by victims. It won't be in the Dubai annual crime statistics.'
