Relatives of two Americans who have been serving long prison sentences in China are asking President Donald Trump to raise their cases during his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week. The families say the pair were ensnared in what they describe as separate "blind mule" scams - schemes in which victims unknowingly carry narcotics - and that both were subsequently convicted on drug charges.
The two prisoners are identified by their families as Dawn Michelle Hunt, 54, a Chicago-area artist and former flight attendant, and Nelson Wells Jr., 52, a native of Louisiana and father of three. Families say Hunt, who has a degree in fashion design and enjoyed entering sweepstakes with her mother, was lured onto an international prize trip and, after receiving purses and a new suitcase as gifts while in China, agreed to carry the luggage on a flight home. According to family accounts, she was unaware that narcotics had been concealed inside the suitcase.
Wells, described by relatives as a world traveler who climbed mountains and explored Japan’s peaks, was arrested after accepting another person’s suitcase at an airport while returning from China. The other individual disappeared after airport security discovered narcotics hidden in the bag, the family says.
Family appeals and hope for diplomatic intervention
For the families, the summit presents an opportunity to secure relief through high-level diplomacy. "With President Trump meeting President Xi, our two families are writing letters - we’re asking, 'Can you please ask for the release of our loved ones?'" said Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle’s older brother. "Hopefully, we can get those letters delivered and read." Tim Hunt described his sister as an artistic "brainiac," recalling her background as a former flight attendant and a degree-holder in fashion design.
Nelson Wells Sr., the father of Nelson Wells Jr., urged the U.S. government to act. "I enjoyed serving my country," he said of his own military service; now he said he wants assistance from the nation his son served. Wells Sr. noted the emotional toll on the family, saying, "We are common people. We cry every night. Our loved ones never leave our minds." The family also reported that Wells’ youngest daughter, now 12 and living in Japan, has little memory of her father because she was six months old at the time of his arrest.
Consular support and Chinese government stance
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed that consular assistance is being provided to both individuals and that officials are advocating for their health and welfare, but declined to provide further details citing privacy concerns. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the two are serving sentences for serious drug-related crimes and that their cases are being handled according to the rule of law, with assurances that their health and legitimate rights are being protected.
Health conditions and humanitarian appeals
Health issues are central to the families’ requests. According to relatives and advocates, Hunt has developed serious medical problems and requires blood transfusions but does not trust prison medical staff enough to approve needed surgery. Wells is reported to suffer from severe seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure and other complications.
Advocates say the U.S. State Department has formally asked Chinese counterparts to consider humanitarian releases for both prisoners. Beijing-based lawyer James Zimmerman, who is advising the Hunt and Wells families, said privately that Chinese officials have signaled they would be willing to consider humanitarian release if the request is delivered at a senior diplomatic level. "The Chinese side has shown a willingness to grant the humanitarian release, but they are also keen to hear from the U.S. side just how important it is for the American people," Zimmerman said.
John Kamm of the San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation, which researches political prisoners in China, emphasized the medical urgency, saying, "Both Dawn Michelle Hunt and Nelson Wells are gravely ill and in desperate need of medical care in the U.S. - they should both be granted humanitarian parole." Dui Hua estimates there are around 200 Americans in carceral facilities in China.
Escalating attention and legislative efforts
Relatives and advocates say U.S. official attention to these cases has grown in recent months. Peter Humphrey, a fraud investigator and former prisoner in China who advises families of foreign detainees, said the U.S. embassy has been raising the cases more frequently with Chinese authorities. The families also point to broader efforts to highlight Americans detained in China, noting that both families testified at a September 2024 hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which they say brought wider attention to such cases.
In addition to diplomatic appeals, the families are backing legislation introduced by Representative Chris Smith. The bill, named for Hunt and Wells, aims to improve support for families facing similar circumstances, according to relatives. The measures are part of an effort to formalize and expand assistance for Americans detained overseas.
Personal toll and time passed
More than a decade into their incarcerations, the families say the passage of time has deepened their hardship. Tim Hunt said his father died in January without seeing his daughter freed. The families stress the human cost of prolonged detainment and the limited contact they have with imprisoned loved ones.
Observers note that in 2024 each country - China and the United States - released three citizens that both governments characterized as wrongfully detained, concluding long diplomatic efforts. Advocates see that prior exchange as part of the context for current appeals but say the worsening health of Hunt and Wells has made urgent action a central focus.
Current status and next steps
At present, the State Department continues to provide consular assistance while families press for senior-level appeals that they believe could prompt humanitarian consideration by Chinese authorities. Chinese officials maintain that legal procedures are being followed and that detainees’ health and legitimate rights are being safeguarded. As the summit approaches, the families hope direct appeals to the U.S. president may yield the attention they regard as necessary to secure the release or medical repatriation of their relatives.