Omaily Sanchez Taveras, Alien Smuggling, Virgin Islands 2024

A federal jury in St. Thomas, VI has convicted 36-year-old Dominican Republic national Omaily Sanchez Taveras of alien smuggling.

According to evidence presented at trial, on October 13, 2024, federal authorities received a tip of a suspicious vessel in the Fortuna Bay area of St. Thomas with what appeared to be aliens on board. Custom and Border Protection agents traveled to the area and encountered the vessel dead in the water near West Cay.

On board the vessel were four Romanians, four Dominican Republic nationals and two Brazilians who all paid Taveras to take them to Culebra, Puerto Rico.

Taveras, who was convicted of alien smuggling, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of incarceration and a maximum fine of $250,000.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Interdiction and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everard E. Potter and Denise N. George.

The conviction is the result of a two-day trial, during which the prosecution presented evidence of Taveras's involvement in the alien smuggling operation.

As the case moves forward, Taveras will face the possibility of a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, or a combination of both.

US Attorney Delia L. Smith announced the conviction, highlighting the importance of the work being done by law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking and alien smuggling.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vi/pr/federal-jury-convicts-dominican-republic-national-alien-smuggling