Men Charged With Alien Smuggling Resulting In Death After Boat Capsizes, Four Die

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Rear Admiral John H. Korn, Commander, 7th Coast Guard District, announce the indictment of six defendants following last week’s vessel capsize that resulted in the deaths of four women.

The twenty-four count indictment returned today by a federal Grand Jury, charges Naaman Davis, 53, and George Lewis, 38, both of the Bahamas, with conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to enter the United States resulting in death, in violation of Title 8, United States Code Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I), and encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the United States resulting in death, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv). Davis is additionally charged with involuntary manslaughter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1112, and illegal reentry into the United States, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). Lewis is also charged with illegal reentry into the United States by an aggravated felon, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) and (b)(2).

In addition, three other individuals who were onboard the vessel, Matthew Williams, 30, Everton Jones, a/k/a “Everton Bryce,” 40, and Kenard Hagigal, 35, all of Jamaica, were charged with illegal reentry into the United States by an aggravated felon, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) and (b)(2). A fourth passenger, Sean Gaynor, 37, of Jamaica, was charged with illegal reentry into the United States, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

If convicted, Davis and Lewis face a maximum sentence of life in prison or death; Williams, Jones, Bryce, and Hagigal face a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison; and Gaynor faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI and the U.S. Coast Guard. This case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Blackburn.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Attachment:

Indictment (PDF)

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.