Press Release
NINE MEMBERS OF PORT ST. LUCIE ALIEN SMUGGLING RING ARRESTED AND CHARGED
October 26, 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, Randy Donnelson, Director of Air Operations for Miami Air and Marine Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, 7th U.S. Coast Guard District (USCG), and Al Lamberti, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, announced the arrest and Indictment of nine individuals in South Florida for their participation in an alien smuggling ring operating out of Port St. Lucie.
On October 8, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a 14-count Indictment against nine individuals, charging them with alien smuggling for profit, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(i) - (A)(1)(A)(I)-(a)(2)(B). Following the Indictment, on October 15, ICE special agents in Ft. Pierce arrested seven of the nine individuals charged in the indictment, including Jorge Paula, 46, and his son, Yeniel Paula, 27, both of Port St. Lucie; Juan Carrasco Sr., 60, and his son, Juan Carrasco Jr., 35, both of West Palm Beach; Wamny Amador, 36, of Pembroke Pines; Lazaro Lopez, 42, and Juan Alberto Abreu Perez, 38, both of Miami. Most recently, on Friday, October 23, 2009, ICE agents arrested Herid Betancourt, 37, of West Palm Beach. A ninth defendant, Jose Guerra, 35, of Pembroke Pines, was arrested on October 13 by the Pembroke Pines Police Department on state drug related charges and is awaiting his initial appearance and arraignment on the federal charges. Trial is scheduled for March 1, 2010, before U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore, in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
According to the charges, in March 2008, ICE special agents initiated an investigation into an alleged alien smuggling organization operating in Port St. Lucie. In April 2008, ICE agents received information that a large white hulled vessel with three black engines had been used by the organization to smuggle Cuban nationals from Cuba to Palm Beach County.
According to statements made in open court during the detention hearings, between June and December 2008, members of the organization allegedly made a number of attempts to travel to Cuba for the purpose of bringing Cuban nationals to the U.S. More specifically, on June 11, 2008, members of the smuggling organization were observed meeting in Port St. Lucie and traveling to Sandsprit Park in Stuart, Florida. Thereafter, on June 22, 2008, a white power boat with three black engines was intercepted by CBP Marine Interdiction Agents. The power boat contained items that were indicative of an alien smuggling operation. Additionally, that same night, ICE agents observed defendants at the 79th Street boat ramps in Miami.
On July 6, 2008, the USCG intercepted the 35' Renegade 65 miles Southeast of Marathon, Fla., with two smugglers and 11 Cuban nationals on board. The two smugglers were indicted and convicted in U.S. District Court in Key Largo and the Cuban nationals were repatriated back to Cuba.
Between July and December 2008, ICE, along with the Broward Sheriff's Office, conducted an undercover investigation and obtained evidence that indicated the alien smuggling organization was engaging in activities to smuggle Cuban nationals into the United States.
Charges in an Indictment are merely accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by ICE’s Office of Investigations in Ft. Pierce. Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of ICE’s Office of Investigations in Ft. Pierce and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. As well, Mr. Sloman thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard for their assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Lineberger and Diana Acosta.
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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