⏱ 2 min read
A daring alien smuggling attempt off the coast of Miami-Dade County has landed five men in hot water. Verdant Roosevelt Scott, 38, of The Bahamas, Zamfir Nitu, 50, of Romania, Donald Coote, 37, of Jamaica, Sergio Alejandro Correa Ramirez, 30, of Colombia, and Gheorghe Ion Chiperi, 43, of Moldova, were charged in connection with an interdiction that took place on April 26. The incident occurred when a law enforcement vessel detected a small, overloaded boat traveling west toward Miami-Dade County around midnight.
As law enforcement approached, the vessel slowed and ultimately stopped. Scott, who was operating the vessel, was taken into custody. On board, agents found 25 aliens, including Scott, who were transferred to the US Coast Guard Cutter WINSLOW GRIESSER for biometric screening and records checks. The screening revealed that Coote, Correa Ramirez, Nitu, and Chiperi had previously been deported from the US.
Scott is charged with 24 counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the US and two counts of aiding or assisting certain aliens to enter. The remaining four defendants are charged with illegal reentry of a deported alien. If convicted, Scott faces up to 10 years in prison, while Nitu and Coote face up to 20 years due to prior aggravated felony convictions. Correa Ramirez and Chiperi face up to two years in prison.
The remaining 20 aliens on board were not charged and were repatriated to The Bahamas. The case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Organized Crime
- Defendant: Miami-Dade
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
