Press Release
SIX INDICTED IN WEST PALM BEACH ALIEN SMUGGLING CASE
June 16, 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, John Beutlich, Director, Customs and Border Protection's Miami Air and Marine Branch, Harold Woodward, Director, Customs and Border Protection, Matthew A. Zetts, Chief Patrol Agent, Miami Sector Border Patrol, Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, 7th Coast Guard District, Michael S. Reiter, Chief, Town of Palm Beach Police Department, Delsa Bush, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department, and Ric Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, announced the unsealing of a Second Superseding Indictment, charging additional defendants Luis Perez, 30, of Loxahatchee, FL, Angel Arce-Perez, 42, of Miami, FL, and Aurelio Sanchez-Ortega, 19, of Miami, with alien smuggling, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)i. If convicted, each defendant faces a possible sentence of up to life imprisonment. Defendants Duany Jimenez, 24, Maikel Soto, 28, and Angel Julio Navarro-Lliteras were previously indicted in this case and are presently incarcerated.
The Indictment alleges that defendant Luis Perez was a Cuban national who, along with others, helped arrange smuggling boat trips for Cuban aliens seeking to enter the United States. None of the Cuban nationals had legal documents allowing them to enter or reside in the United States.
Defendant Aurelio Sanchez-Ortega operated the vessel that brought the illegal Cubans into the United States. Defendant Angel Arce-Perez was the co-captain with Aurelio Sanchez-Ortega. Defendant Maikel Soto was the true owner of the vessel operated by his two co-defendants, and helped coordinate the smuggling trip. Defendant Duany Jimenez assisted in concealing the smuggling operation by, among other things, cleaning the vessel after it brought Cuban nationals into the United States, thus concealing the true purpose of the vessel from law enforcement. Defendant Angel Navarro-Lliteras attempted to transport an undocumented Cuban national after he entered the United States. All the defendants were Cuban nationals.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the agents and officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, West Palm Beach Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the Police Department, Town of Palm Beach. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emalyn Webber.
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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