A Woman Pleads Guilty in Human Smuggling Trip in Which 16 Drowned
Woman Arranges Deadly Voyage from Cuba to Florida
A woman who helped arrange a 2022 human smuggling trip from Cuba to Florida that ended in the deaths of 16 people pleaded guilty to federal charges that carry up to life in prison, prosecutors said Friday.
Guilty Plea
Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, 26, who is in the U.S. without authorization, pleaded guilty Tuesday to “conspiring to smuggle aliens into the United States,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami said in a statement.
Smuggling Operation
Dominguez-Nieves collected the money from the migrants’ family members in the U.S., at least $11,500 in all, and sent that to her boyfriend in Cuba who put the migrants on a boat, she admitted as part of a plea deal.
Tragic Voyage
The small fishing boat left Playa Jaimanitas in Cuba on November 16, 2022, and sank 30 miles into the trip. Of the 18 people aboard, 16 people drowned.
Lack of Safety Measures
There were no life jackets on board, and the two survivors told authorities that the captain “did not appear to know how to operate the vessel,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Criminal Charges
The charges carry up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum of five years, the office said. A plea agreement does not spell out any sentence that prosecutors will recommend, but it does indicate they will ask that it be reduced because of her cooperation. Sentencing is scheduled for April 11.
Defender’s Response
A federal defender listed as representing Dominguez-Nieves did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening.
Migrant Deaths on Sea Routes
In 2022, at least 269 migrants – most of whom were trying to reach the United States mainland or Puerto Rico – died on sea routes through the Caribbean, according to the International Organization for Migration, an organization within the United Nations system. On the U.S.-Mexico border, 686 migrant deaths were recorded in 2022, the group said in a 2023 report.
Conclusion
This case serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of human smuggling and the devastating consequences it can have on individuals and their families. The defendant’s guilty plea is a step towards accountability and justice for the victims of this heinous crime.
FAQs
* What were the charges against Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves?
She pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle aliens into the United States.
* How many people died in the 2022 human smuggling trip?
16 people drowned, and only two survived.
* What was the cause of the boat sinking?
The small fishing boat sank 30 miles into the trip due to poor weather conditions, and the captain’s inexperience with operating a vessel.
* What are the possible consequences of the charges?
The charges carry up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum of five years.
