MIAMI – A federal judge in Miami has found two people guilty in a case involving undocumented smuggling of immigrants from the Bahamas to the United States.
Court records show that on October 24, 2024, Jordany Capoto Leon, 31, and 44-year-old Uniel Cabrera Pilot departed from the United States towards the Bahamas waters in a cuddy cabin-style boat. Authorities say two men picked up 18 people and tried to return to the US with them.
The ship was tracked by the US Coast Guard Cutter Manoir. Cuttermanawar observed the activity and reentered US waters near Key Largo, Florida, to track the boat. US customs and border guards were mounted in the air, and marine operation ships tried to stop the boat, but the operators refused to comply. The container finally stopped after the warning shot was fired.
Law enforcement officials reported that 18 individuals on board, except Capote Leon and Pilot, were Ecuadorian nationals without legal status to enter US authorities, and that three passengers were identified as integrated by Jorge Fabian Albaracin Cabrera, Marcelo Patricio Pesante Merchant and Jun Carlos Villa Alpi.
Five men landed to face federal accusations. Since then, everything has pleaded guilty. The remaining individuals were returned to the Bahamas.
On March 4th, US District Judge K. Michael Moore was sentenced to Capote Leon to 37 months in prison and was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Pyroto pleaded guilty on March 6 before Magistrate Judge Ellen F. Angelo. The plea was formally accepted by Judge Moore on April 4th. Piloto is scheduled to be sentenced May 8th and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Survey (HSI) Miami with support from the US Customs and Border Patrol and the US Coast Guard District 7. The case is being charged by US special aide Tanner Steele.
