A Bahamian national was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison by a judge in Miami following a guilty plea to alien smuggling. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release. The case stems from an incident on November 8, 2024, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted Keith Kevin Russell, 46, transporting 18 people from The Bahamas to the United States.
The CBP vessel encountered the smuggling operation approximately six miles off the coast of Miami, Florida. Russell initially tried to evade capture but complied after officers fired warning flares. The individuals on board, who did not have authorization to enter the United States, hailed from China, Haiti, Jamaica, and The Bahamas. They were taken on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge, where their status was confirmed.
Among those intercepted was Patrick Angelo Percentie, 45, a Bahamian alien previously deported after a felony conviction. Percentie also pled guilty and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by HSI Miami with support from CBP and the U.S. Coast Guard, 7th Coast Guard District. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is handling the prosecution.
Further details and updates on the case can be found on the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida website. Court documents related to the case are available online at the District Court for the Southern District of Florida website under case number 24-cr-20514.