Press Release
TWENTY THREE CHARGED WITH ALIEN SMUGGLING OFFENSES
May 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander 7th Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Matthew Zetts, Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol, Harold Woodward, Director of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, and John Beutlich, Director of Miami Air and Marine, Customs and Border Protection announce the Indictments of twenty-three (23) defendants charged with alien smuggling and related offenses involving the attempted smuggling of more than 200 foreign nationals into the United States.
On April 25, 2008, a federal grand jury in Key West returned twelve separate Indictments charging defendants Yoel Muniz-Santos, Jorge Luis Perez, Alexis De La Cruz Suarez, Cesar Gutierrez, Noel Gutierrez, Aramis Penate Sigler, Felix Medero Garcia, Rolando Del Milag Risse, Aradih Chanfru, Elmis Ruiz, Jose Lorente-Santos, George Artega-Fontecilla, Orlando Magrinat, Karel Alvarez, Yenner Garcia Acevedo, Misael Velasquez Molina, Duniesky Lau Sosa, Yaiko Eduardo Brioso-Vega, Roberto Chacon-Rodriguez, Israel Trujillo Dihigo, Teidy Castillo Rodriguez, Luis Cantino-Velez, and Jesus Valdez with alien smuggling and fleeing from the United States Coast Guard. If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
Defendants Penate Sigler, Jose Lorente-Santos, Luis E. Cantino-Velez, Rolando Del Milag Risse, Aradih Chanfrau, Viako E. Brioso-Vega, Alexis De La Cruz Suarez, Cesar Gutierrez, Alexander Bosque-Martinez, Muniz Santos, Jorge Luis Perez, Duniesky Lau Sosa, Miseal Velasquez Molina, Israel Trujillo-Dihigo Karel Alvarez, Orlando Magrinat are making their initial appearance in magistrate court in Key West, Florida at 1:30 p.m. today.
Case summaries:
United States v. Yoel Muniz-Santos and Jorge Luis Perez, 08-10015-Cr-King. Yoel Muniz-Santos, 36, of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Jorge Luis Perez, 37, of West Palm Beach, FL, are charged with conspiracy and encouraging and inducing 27 Cuban nationals to come to the United States in February, 2008.
United States v. Alexis De La Cruz Suarez, 08-10017-Cr-King. Alexis De La Cruz Suarez, 31, of Miami, FL, is charged with encouraging and inducing 18 Cuban nationals to come to the United States in March 2008.
United States v. Cesar Gutierrez and Noel Gutierrez, 08-10018-Cr-King. Cesar Gutierrez, 39, of Hialeah, FL, and Noel Gutierrez, 39, of Tampa, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing twenty-nine Cuban nationals to come to the United States in July 2007.
United States v. Aramis Penate Sigler and Felix Medero Garcia, 08-10019-Cr-King. Aramis Penate Sigler, 30, and Felix Medero Garcia, 28, both of Hialeah, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing twenty Cuban nationals to come to the United States in September 2007. Felix Medero Garcia is also charged with failure to stop when ordered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
United States v. Rolando Del Milag Risse and Aradih Chanfru, 08-10020-Cr-King. Rolando Del Milag Risse, 47, and Aradih Chanfru, 37, both of Big Pine Key, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing thirty-one Cuban nationals to come to the United States in May 2006. Rolando Del Milag Risse is also charged with failure to stop when ordered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
United States v. Elmis Ruis, Jose Lorente-Santos, and George Ortega-Fontecilla, 08-10021-Cr-King. Elmis Ruiz, 32, of Miami, Jose Lorente-Santos, 43, of Hialeah, FL, and George Ortega-Fontecilla, 36, of Tampa, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing eight Cuban nationals to come to the United States in November 2007.
United States v. Orlando Magrinat, 08-10022-Cr-King. Orlando Magrinat, 45, of Miami, FL, is charged with encouraging and inducing twenty-three Cuban nationals to come to the United States and also with landing those twenty-three aliens at a place other than a designated port of entry and failing to present them to an authorized Immigration Official. This charge carries a five year mandatory minimum sentence if convicted. These charges stem from an April 2008 event.
United States v. Karel Alvarez and Yenner Garcia Acevedo, 08-10023-Cr-King. Karel Alvarez, 36, of Miami, FL, and Yenner Garcia Acevedo, 30, of Lehigh Acres, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing eight Cuban nationals to come to the United States in October 2007.
United States v. Misael Velasquez Molina and Duniesky Lau Sosa, 08-10024-Cr-King. Misael Velasquez Molina, 30, and Duniesky Lau Sosa, 30, both of Miami, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing twenty Cuban nationals to enter the United States in September 2007.
United States v. Yaiko Eduardo Brioso-Vega and Roberto Chacon-Rodriguez, 08-10025-Cr-King. Yaiko Eduardo Brioso-Vega, 33, of Miami, FL, and Roberto Chacon-Rodriguez, 29, of Hialeah, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing twenty-six Cuban nationals to enter the United States in November 2007.
United States v. Israel Trujillo Dihigo and Teidy Castillo Rodriguez, 08-10026-Cr-King. Israel Trujillo Dihigo, 35, of Miami, FL, and Teidy Castillo Rodriguez, 38, of Titusville, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing nineteen Cuban nationals to enter the United States in November 2007.
United States v. Luis Cantino-Velez and Jesus Valdez, 08-10027-Cr-King. Luis Cantino-Velez, 30, and Jesus Valdes, 35, both of Miami, FL, are charged with conspiracy to smuggle aliens and encouraging and inducing thirty-nine Cuban nationals to enter the United States in July 2007. Jesus Valdes is also charged with encouraging and inducing twenty-five Cuban nationals to enter the United States in July 2006.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the 7th Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection - Field Operations, and Customs and Border Protection - Miami Air and Marine. These cases are being handled by AUSAs assigned to the Major Crimes Section.
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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