LawFuel – Legal Newswire – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, Harold Woodward, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Rear Admiral Steve Branham, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District, announce the November 21, 2008 indictment of defendant Crecencio Hernandez, 62, of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on charges of smuggling aliens into the U.S., resulting in the death of six passengers. If convicted, Hernandez faces life imprisonment. Hernandez will be arraigned in federal court at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 26, 2008.
According to the thirteen count indictment, Hernandez conspired with persons in the Dominican Republic to encourage and induce illegal aliens to enter the U.S., knowing that they did not have permission to be here. The indictment also alleges that the conspiracy resulted in the death of six of Hernandez’s passengers. Finally, the indictment alleges that Hernandez encouraged and induced twelve illegal aliens to enter the U.S., in violation of immigration law, and that his actions resulted in the death of six passengers.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, and City of Miami Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Luck.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
