The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida

Public Affairs Office:
Alicia Valle
Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney
(305) 961-9153
Public Affairs Fax
(305) 530-7055

February 19, 2009

NEWS RELEASE :

DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY AND MURDER CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE JOE COOL VOYAGE

 

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Division; Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander 7th Coast Guard District; Jonathan Sall, Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service; Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Robert Parker, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announced that today defendant Guillermo Alfonso Zarabozo was found guilty by a jury for the first-degree murders of Jake H. Branam, Kelley S. Branam, Scott M. Gamble, and Samuel A. Kairy, as well as conspiracy to commit violence against maritime navigation.  Zarabozo faces a statutory term of life imprisonment as to the four first-degree murder charges and a sentence of up to life imprisonment for the conspiracy charge.

        Sentencing has been scheduled for May 6, 2009, before United States District Judge Paul C. Huck.

        Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Miami-Dade Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen Gilbert, Michael Gilfarb and Jeffrey Tsai.

        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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