FLORIDA, CMC – A Bahamian nationwide has been charged for his alleged function in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in a number of migrant deaths.
In accordance with an indictment unsealed within the Southern District of Florida, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also called Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested on March 6 in The Bahamas underneath a request by america involving fees filed underneath seal within the Southern District of Florida in November 2023.
In accordance with the courtroom paperwork, Smith was allegedly concerned in a human smuggling group that tried to convey migrants illegally from The Bahamas to america by boat.
The migrants have been nationals of Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, amongst different nations. The migrants or their households and buddies allegedly paid the group cash to be smuggled to america.
The indictment alleges that Smith was personally concerned in three maritime human smuggling incidents, together with one which resulted in 5 deaths.
“Vandrick Smith has been charged with organizing harmful human smuggling operations, sending migrants from The Bahamas to Florida by boat,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Legal professional Basic Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Division’s Felony Division.
“As alleged within the indictment, the human smuggling group’s efforts turned lethal when a ship carrying migrants capsized in January 2022. Human smugglers exploit determined individuals for cash, and the results may be tragic. The Felony Division is dedicated to combating human smuggling organizations that prey on and endanger weak migrants, wherever they function.”
Smith allegedly participated in three maritime human smuggling occasions that occurred on or about March 6, 2021, January 22, 2022, and August 8, 2022.
The indictment alleges that on the night of January 22, 2022, the indictment alleges that quite a few migrants boarded a vessel in The Bahamas destined for Florida. Shortly after the vessel’s departure, the engines allegedly stopped functioning, and the ship capsized.
On January 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the only surviving migrant, who was discovered clinging to the highest of the overturned vessel.
“Human smuggling ventures put individuals’s lives in danger for the sake of revenue,” stated U.S. Legal professional Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.
“Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a greater life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave hazard to migrants. The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace will proceed to work with our companions to prosecute those that perform illicit human smuggling operations to guard weak migrants and save lives.”
Particular Agent Anthony Salisbury, in control of Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Miami, stated that HSI “stays devoted to working with our home and worldwide companions to convey reckless criminals who prioritize monetary acquire over individuals’s lives and security to justice.
“The dangers related to maritime human smuggling ventures are excessive. We urge the general public to keep away from embarking on these journeys with harmful prison organizations, which regularly lead to tragedy.”
Smith is charged with 5 counts of making an attempt to convey noncitizens to america, leading to dying stemming from the January 2022 enterprise.
He’s additionally charged with conspiring to convey noncitizens to america for revenue, putting in jeopardy the lifetime of noncitizens and leading to dying; making an attempt to convey noncitizens to america for revenue; and making an attempt to help and help sure noncitizens in coming into america.
If convicted of making an attempt to convey noncitizens to america, leading to dying, Smith faces a most penalty of life in jail.
The investigation is being carried out underneath the Extraterritorial Felony Journey Strike Power (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Division’s Felony Division and HSI.
The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that will current explicit nationwide safety or public security dangers or grave humanitarian issues. ECT has devoted investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial assets. It coordinates with and receives help from different U.S. authorities businesses and overseas legislation enforcement authorities.
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