Florida Men Plead Guilty to Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Involving 69 Aliens

MIAMI – Two Miami men have pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in a conspiracy to smuggle aliens into the United States by sea.  

According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 2024 and March 2025, Ezequiel Perez Benitez, 37, and Miguel Avoy, 36, participated in at least three alien smuggling ventures.

As part of the conspiracy, “go-fast” boats would travel from Miami-Dade County to the territorial waters of the Bahamas. During each return trip to the United States, the boats were intercepted in United States waters by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Overall, the conspiracy involved 69 aliens of various nationalities, including China and Ecuador.

The conspiracy also involved the transportation of aliens within the United States after they had entered the country unlawfully. A third co-defendant, Baisheng An, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty on June 9 to charges related to conspiracy and the transportation of aliens. An was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in during an investigative operation targeting the human smuggling network.

All aliens interdicted at sea were either prosecuted for illegal reentry into the United States, returned to their country of departure, in this case the Bahamas, or turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for further immigration proceedings.   

Several additional co-conspirators have been charged in separate, related cases.

Avoy was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30 at 10:30 a.m. in Miami. He faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of HSI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from CBP-AMO and USCG, Southeast Coast Guard District.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-10027.

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