Hans Keil is Somoa's associate minister of commerce, labor and industry. The U.S. attorney’s office said Keil traveled to Branson last summer to pick up a Samoan citizen who was working at the Dutton Theatre.

After the arrest, Samoa’s prime minister wrote to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and called the issue a misunderstanding.

The U.S. attorney’s office filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Springfield to dismiss the indictment on Friday.

“The decision by the U.S. Attorney today to dismiss the case vindicates Mr. Keil’s claim that he was, and has always been a citizen of the United States,” said Keil’s attorney, John Kizer of Springfield.

“Mr. Keil has honorably served this country in the military in a time of war. We regret he and his family had to suffer during the period of time he was incarcerated in the Greene County jail and while this matter was pending for several months.

“We hope Mr. Keil can get back to some normalcy in his life as a family man, Samoan public servant, Samoan diplomat, and businessman.”