Bahamian Man Arrested And Charged For Attempting To Smuggle $1.2 Million To The Bahamas

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 (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, announced that Rohan Spicer, a Bahamian national, was arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle approximately $1.2 million to the Bahamas. A bond hearing has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Matthewman.

According to court documents, Spicer traveled from the Bahamas to the United States by boat, arriving on February 25. HSI agents observed Spicer transfer items from the rear of his sport utility vehicle onto the boat on February 27. Spicer completed a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Vessel Entrance or Clearance Statement in which he declared that he was transporting household goods and speakers. Subsequently, Spicer’s boat was interdicted and boarded approximately six nautical miles east of the Palm Beach Inlet, at which time Spicer advised the officers that he was enroute to Freeport, Grand Bahamas, and that he was in possession of approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. currency that he had failed to declare one hour earlier at the Port of Palm Beach.

A Customs and Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) search of the vessel and cargo lead to the discovery and seizure of approximately $1.2 million in cash, packaged in $50,000 bundles of various dominations. The cash was hidden within merchandise, stereo speakers, and luggage discovered aboard the vessel.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ICE-HSI, CBP Office of Air and Marine Operations, CBP/Office of Field Operations, CBP/U.S Border Patrol, PBSO, and the Village of Tequesta Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Evans.

A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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.