Two Cuban nationals were found guilty of alien smuggling charges by a federal judge in Miami. According to court documents and statements, on October 24, 2024, Yordany Capote-Leon, 31, and Yuniel Cabrera Piloto, 44, traveled from the United States to Bahamian waters on a boat. They then loaded 18 individuals onto the boat and attempted to return to the United States.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Manowar observed the activity and tracked the boat back to U.S. waters. Off Key Largo, CBP officers instructed the boat to stop, but Capote-Leon and Piloto continued until warning shots were fired. All individuals on the boat, including the 18 passengers identified as Ecuadorian nationals lacking U.S. entry authorization, were transferred to the USCG Cutter Manowar. Among these passengers were three individuals, Jorge Fabian Albarrasin Cabrera, Marcelo Patricio Pesantez-Merchan, and Juan Carlos Villa Arpi, who had previously been removed from the United States.
Capote-Leon, Piloto, Cabrera, Merchan, and Arpi were brought ashore to face charges and have pleaded guilty. The other passengers were returned to the Bahamas.
On March 4, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Capote-Leon to 37 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for three years. Piloto pleaded guilty on March 6 before magistrate judge Ellen F. D’Angelo. U.S. District Judge Moore accepted the plea, setting Piloto's sentencing for May 8. Piloto faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, plus supervised release and a potential $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and José R. Figueroa, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami, announced the proceedings. HSI Miami conducted the investigation with CBP and USCG assistance. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is leading the prosecution.
Further information and documents are available on the websites of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the District Court for the Southern District of Florida under case number 24-cr-10027.