Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, Human Smuggling Conspiracy, Florida 2024

MIAMI – A chilling tale of human desperation and greed came to light on January 21, as 26-year-old Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves of Sebring, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to conspiring to smuggle aliens into the United States.

The case began in November 2022, when Dominguez-Nieves, who entered the United States illegally, collected at least $11,500 from the migrants' family members in South Florida with the promise to smuggle the migrants from Cuba into the United States. She transferred the money she collected to her co-conspirator located in Cuba.

Dominguez-Nieves's co-conspirator then loaded approximately 18 migrants onto a small fishing vessel with no life jackets and with a captain who, according to the two survivors, did not appear to know how to operate the vessel. The vessel sank roughly 30 miles into its journey to the United States, killing all but two migrants aboard.

Many of the 16 victims were young children and teenagers, including children ranging from nine months to seven years old, as well as two 16-year-olds. Four of the migrants' bodies were recovered at sea, and their cause of death was ruled drowning.

A sentencing hearing is set for April 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Miami. Dominguez-Nieves faces up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region, made the announcement.

The CGIS, Southeast Region, investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, U.S. Border Patrol (BP) Miami Sector, Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office, and Highlands County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/woman-pleads-guilty-human-smuggling-conspiracy-resulting-16-deaths