Press Release
ALIEN SMUGGLERS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT
June 25, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, announced today that United States District Court Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Dunieskis Rodriguez Pinero, 31, and Olierki Fabelo-Carbonell, 31, to 120 months’ imprisonment for a conspiracy to smuggle aliens which resulted in serious bodily injury and for failing to stop their vessel for law enforcement officers.
According to the Indictment and facts previously presented in open court, on November 15, 2007, a United States Coast Guard Cutter observed the defendants operating a vessel in international waters between Cuba and the United States. The defendants were heading north towards the United States at a high rate of speed. The Coast Guard Cutter attempted to stop the defendants, but they led the Coast Guard Cutter on a 1.5 hour chase. When a Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene to assist in the pursuit, the defendants finally stopped their vessel.
On board the vessel, in addition to the two smugglers, were 12 Cuban nationals. One of the Cuban nationals on board had sustained a severe head injury as a result of the smuggling operation. Coast Guard immediately transported the victim to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he remained in a coma for some time. Sadly, in April 2008, the victim died as a result of his injuries.
Mr. Acosta commended the combined efforts of United States Coast Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Donald Brown and Russell Brown.
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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