Laurent Marc-Antoine Jean Maubert-Cayla, Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Owner, Florida 2018

Laurent Marc-Antoine Jean Maubert-Cayla, a charter owner from France, has been arrested and charged federally with misconduct or neglect that resulted in the death of an individual. According to allegations, Maubert-Cayla offered the 91-foot performance yacht, MIAMI VICE, for charters on a website, despite not having a valid United States Coast Guard license.

Maubert-Cayla employed Captain Mauricio Alvarez to drive the yacht during charters, but Alvarez was known to heavily use cocaine and alcohol. In March 2018, Maubert-Cayla even filmed Alvarez using cocaine. On April 1, 2018, Maubert-Cayla chartered the MIAMI VICE to a group of individuals, who met and paid him at the Sea Isle Marina.

The MIAMI VICE then left the Sea Isle Marina with Alvarez acting as captain. Alvarez drove the yacht at a high rate of speed and beached it on Monument Island, where the charter patrons, including victim R.M.P., began to swim. Alvarez then decided to leave the Island, but did not ensure that everybody was on board the yacht before doing so.

Alvarez started the yacht’s 4500 horsepower engines and accelerated them in reverse, directly to where victim R.M.P. was swimming. R.M.P. was caught in the MIAMI VICE’s propellers and killed. Maubert-Cayla is currently being detained pending a bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney of the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of CGIS and FWC in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet and Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Jones.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Mauricio Alvarez is currently charged with misconduct or neglect of ship owner that resulted in the death of an individual in Southern District of Florida case number 18-20314-CR-ALTONAGA.

Alvarez’s jury trial is scheduled for September 4, 2018. The case against Maubert-Cayla is a reminder of the importance of safety and responsibility in the charter industry. The investigation and prosecution of this case are a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies in ensuring justice is served.

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