Press Release
CAPTAIN AND CO-DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN WEST PALM BEACH ALIEN SMUGGLING CASE
October 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Investigations, Harold Woodward, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, 7th U.S. Coast Guard District (USCG), Kirk W. Blouin, Chief, Town of Palm Beach Police Department, Delsa R. Bush, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department, and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Officer, announced today’s sentencing of defendants Aurelio Sanchez-Ortega, 21, and Angel Julio Navarro-Lliteras, 36, both of Miami, for their participation in an alien smuggling conspiracy that resulted in death, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I), and (a)(1)(A)(v)(I).
Earlier today in West Palm Beach, U.S. District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley sentenced defendant Aurelio Sanchez-Ortega to 75 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release. Judge Hurley sentenced Navarro-Lliteras to 19 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release. Navarro-Lliteras received credit for time already served.
On November 14 and 15, 2007, the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) received information from the Juno Beach Police Department regarding three possible smuggling operations. Within hours, USBP was notified by the Town of Palm Beach Police Department that 34 migrants had landed in the Town of Palm Beach, Fla. All of the migrants stated that they had recently swum ashore from a boat that traveled directly from Cuba. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) responded and discovered that one of the migrants, Carlos Alberto Pons-Arias, drowned as he tried to swim to shore on Palm Beach. The migrants consisted of a total of 35 Cuban nationals, including 17 adult males, two juvenile males, 12 adult females, three juvenile females, and a deceased male who drowned. The incident was referred to ICE special agents in West Palm Beach for investigation.
On June 12, 2008, six individuals, Duany Jimenez, 26, Aurelia Sanchez Ortega, 21, Angel Navarro, 37, all of Miami, Makiel Soto, 30, of Homestead, Luis Perez, 31, of Loxahatchee, and Angel Arce-Perez, 43, of Hialeah, were charged in a 38-count indictment on charges of conspiracy to smuggle aliens, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324. ICE special agents arrested five of the defendants. Defendant Angel Arce-Perez remains a fugitive.
A second superseding indictment was subsequently returned, charging Duany Jimenez, Angel Navarro and Makiel Soto with conspiracy to smuggle aliens, in violation of Title, United States Code, Section 1324. The superseding indictment also charged Luis Perez, Aurelia Sanchez Ortega and Angel Arce-Perez with various other violations, including Title 8, United States Code, Sections1324 (a)(1)(A)(I); 1324 (a)(1)(A)(ii); 1324 (a)(1)(A)(v)(I); 1324 (a)(1)(A)(v)(II); and 1324 (a)(1)(B)(iv).
According to documents filed with the Court, Sanchez-Ortega was the captain of a 33' boat that brought the 35 migrants from Cuba to the U.S. on November 15, 2007. Co-defendant Navarro-Lliteras assisted in the failed smuggling attempt.
To date, all five defendants arrested have pled guilty and were sentenced to prison. On January 14, 2009, Duany Jimenez pled guilty to conspiracy to smuggle aliens and was sentenced to 36 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. On March 20, 2009, Luis Orlando Perez was sentenced to 120 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. On May 22, 2009, Makiel Soto was sentenced to 50 months incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
Luis Arce Perez is believed to have fled to Cuba and is armed and dangerous. ICE urges anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact 1-866-DHS-2ICE (347-2423).
Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of agents and officers from ICE, USCG, CBP, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Palm Beach. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emalyn Webber and John McMillan.
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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