Alien Smuggling Bust

⏱ 2 min read

Four illegal aliens, including Theron Don Mills, Oswaldo Sisa Heredia, Joel Perez-Matos, and Pablo Antonio Alvarez Rodriguez, were charged in connection with an alien smuggling venture that led to a high-speed maritime pursuit off the coast of Miami-Dade County on March 11. The suspects, who had previously been deported from the U.S., attempted to evade law enforcement in a vessel carrying 15 undocumented migrants heading towards the U.S.

The suspect vessel, operated by Mills, was initially detected approximately 21 miles east of Miami-Dade County and traveling west toward shore. When law enforcement approached, the vessel fled, prompting a high-speed chase. Despite law enforcement activating lights and sirens, the vessel continued to evade authorities, leading to the discharge of warning rounds and ultimately disabling rounds to bring the vessel to a halt.

Law enforcement identified 15 aliens onboard the small center-console vessel, who were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter WILLIAM FORES for biometric screening and records checks. The checks revealed that all four defendants had previously been deported from the U.S.

The four defendants are charged with illegal re-entry of a deported alien, while Mills is also charged with encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the U.S. If convicted, Mills faces up to five years in prison on the inducement charge, and each defendant faces up to two years in prison on the illegal reentry charges.