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HAUGHTON, La. — The parents of Nelson Wells Jr. are pleading for help from the Trump administration as their son remains in a Chinese prison while suffering from serious medical issues. They say time is running out.

Wells Jr. has been imprisoned since 2014 on an alleged drug‑smuggling charge. His parents, Cynthia Wells and Nelson Wells Sr., say their son was not only wrongfully detained but now his health is declining.

A Family’s Urgent Appeal

Now, they want President Donald Trump to intervene. Trump was expected to meet with China’s president later this month but has pushed it back another month. Nonetheless, the Wells family hopes he will raise their son’s name during the summit. They believe a direct appeal could open the door to a humanitarian release.

Years of Seeking Help From Lawmakers

For years, the family has asked lawmakers for support. In 2023, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the case was a priority for the State Department, according to KSLA.

“We’re doing everything we can,” Johnson said then. He later added that lawmakers had done “everything we possibly can” and remained prayerful for Wells Jr.’s release.

H.R. 5491: A Push for Accountability

In 2025, Rep. Christopher Smith introduced H.R. 5491, a bill designed to increase pressure on China. The legislation would:

• Require the State Department to create a diplomatic action plan for Americans unjustly detained in China
• Authorize sanctions against officials responsible for wrongful detentions
• Mandate increased reporting to Congress

The bill highlights cases like Wells Jr.’s and seeks stronger tools to address them.

Why Nelson Wells Jr. Was Imprisoned

In May 2014, Nelson Wells Jr. traveled to China from Japan, where he lived with his wife and three children. He went to seek medical treatment for a head injury from a traffic accident. But as he prepared to leave China through Chongqing, authorities arrested him and accused him of trying to smuggle drugs out of the country.

His family says the case never made sense. They learned of his arrest months later and say he had no chance to defend himself. They argue he faced little evidence, no meaningful due process, and no opportunity to tell his side of the story. On their website for Nelson Jr, they describe him as “stripped of his freedom without the opportunity to speak,” and say the conviction “destroyed his life and separated him from everyone he loves.”

Wells Jr., now 52, was convicted and initially sentenced to life in prison. His parents say the sentence came after a process they believe was deeply flawed.

In 2019, China reduced his sentence to 22 years, not including time served. Yet the family insists he remains wrongfully detained and point to congressional discussions that have raised similar concerns.

A Decline in Health

They say the conviction has taken a severe toll on his health. According to the family, he has lost more than 100 pounds and now suffers from life‑threatening medical problems inside the Chongqing facility. They fear he will not survive without urgent intervention.

How the U.S. Could Bring Him Home

The United States can still bring Wells Jr. home despite his conviction. The U.S. maintains a formal process that allows Americans convicted abroad to be transferred back to the United States to serve the remainder of their sentence. This process requires approval from both governments, according to the State Department’s International Prisoner Transfer Program.

In 2018, China enacted a law that allows foreign prisoners to be transferred to their home countries on medical, humanitarian, or compassionate grounds. The law permits case‑by‑case transfers even without a bilateral agreement. Therefore, China could approve a humanitarian transfer if officials determine that Wells Jr.’s medical condition warrants it.

Such a transfer would move Wells Jr. to a U.S. facility. His parents say this would finally allow him to receive the medical care he urgently needs.

What Comes Next

As the summit approaches, the Wells family continues contacting lawmakers and urging the White House to act. They believe raising Wells Jr.’s name directly with Chinese leadership could finally bring movement in a case that has stretched across more than a decade.

They say they will keep pushing until their son comes home.

Website and GoFundMe

The Wells family has created a website to share their son’s story and document their efforts. They also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support legal and humanitarian costs.

To learn more or donate, readers can visit the verified GoFundMe.