| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District |
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| Press Release |
Date: May 04, 2005 Contact: Lt. j.g. Eric Willis |
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TWO MIGRANT SMUGGLERS SENTENCED TO SERVE MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN JAIL SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The second of two convicted smugglers was sentenced to 5 years in jail in Federal Court last Thursday, after being convicted of conspiring to bring illegal aliens into the United States. Cesar Morillo-Fernandez and Fermin Encarnacion-Morillo both Dominican Republic Nationals, were convicted in federal court on December 17, 2004. Fermin Encarnacion-Morillo, was sentenced to 51 months in jail on March 11, 2005. Last Thursday, Morillo-Fernandez, was sentenced to 5 years behind bars. Last July, the two smugglers were intercepted near the coast of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, by the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing, while attempting to transport 27 Dominican Nationals into Puerto Rico. Captain Douglas Rudolph, Sector San Juan Commander stated, "with the significant loss of life that all to often accompanies these illegal voyages, (123 confirmed deaths last fiscal year) smugglers like these must continue be held accountable for their careless and negligent actions." After the yola had been intercepted and the migrants safely transfered, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents worked aboard Cushing to build the case for prosecution. "This conviction is clear proof that we're dealing with unscrupulous and ruthless individuals who view human life as nothing more than cargo for profit. We will continue using all our resources, federal, state and local to bring these criminals to justice," said ICE's Acting Special Agent Lydia St. John. 2276 migrants in 66 separate cases have been intercepted crossing just the Mona Passage Since October 1, 2004 ###The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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