Press Release
CAPTAIN AND CO-DEFENDANT PLEAD GUILTY IN WEST PALM BEACH ALIEN SMUGGLING CASE
April 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Investigations, Harold Woodward, Director of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Randy Donnelson, Director of Air Operations for Miami Air and Marine Branch, Customs and Border Protection, Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, 7th Coast Guard District, Michael S. Reiter, Chief, Town of Palm Beach Police Department, Delsa Bush, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department, and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, announced the guilty pleas of the last two defendants arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling involving a death, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I), and (a)(1)(A)(v)(I).
Aurelio Sanchez-Ortega, 20, a Cuban national who formerly resided in Miami, pled guilty on April 24, 2009. Sanchez-Ortega was the captain of a 33 foot boat that brought 35 aliens from Cuba to the United States on November 15, 2007. One of the aliens drowned as he tried to swim to shore on Palm Beach. The remaining 34 aliens were brought ashore.
Angel Julio Navarro-Lliteras, 36, a Cuban national who formerly resided in Miami, attempted to transport the undocumented Cuban nationals once these individuals had landed on shore. Navarro-Lliteras pled guilty on April 21, 2009.
Both defendants face possible life sentences.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the agents and officers of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, Town of Palm Beach Police Department, West Palm Beach Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emalyn Webber.
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.
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