A 25-year-old Cuban lady concerned in a lethal human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of 16 individuals was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail on Friday.
Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, who pled responsible to alien smuggling conspiracy and associated expenses on January 21, 2025, performed a key position in a scheme to smuggle 18 Cubans into the US by boat. The operation tragically resulted in catastrophe when the boat sank, ensuing within the lack of 16 lives, together with a number of kids.
In accordance with officers, Dominguez-Nieves entered the U.S. illegally in October 2022. A month later, she and her boyfriend organized to smuggle 18 Cuban migrants by boat from Cuba by the Florida Straits to South Florida. In change for a payment, they facilitated the harmful journey, which included amassing over $11,500 from households in South Florida who sought to convey their family members into the U.S.
The ill-fated voyage started on November 16, 2024, when the smugglers’ fishing boat left Playa Jaimanitas, Cuba, certain for South Florida. Nonetheless, the boat sank roughly 30 miles into the journey, drowning 16 individuals. Three our bodies have been later recovered in Monroe County, Florida, and the reason for demise was decided to be drowning. Two survivors who managed to make it ashore offered investigators with essential particulars, revealing that the boat was overcrowded and lacked lifejackets. The captain, they mentioned, appeared unqualified to deal with the vessel.
U.S. District Choose Beth Bloom imposed a sentence that exceeded the advice of the federal sentencing tips because of the severity of the offense. Choose Bloom highlighted the lethal penalties of Dominguez-Nieves’ actions, which immediately led to the tragic lack of life.
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The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Southeast Subject Workplace, with help from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, U.S. Border Patrol, the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Workplace, and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Workplace. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Legal professional Zachary A. Keller.
This case is a part of Operation Take Again America, a nationwide initiative geared toward combating unlawful immigration, dismantling transnational prison organizations, and decreasing violent crime. The operation coordinates sources from a number of federal businesses, together with the Division of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Activity Forces (OCDETFs) and Venture Protected Neighborhoods (PSN).
U.S. Legal professional Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Particular Agent in Cost Matthew J. Margelot of the CGIS Southeast Subject Workplace each praised the sentence, emphasizing the significance of holding these accountable for such harmful prison actions accountable.
