Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, a 26-year-old resident of Sebring, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges related to a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of 16 migrants. The plea was entered on January 21 in federal court in Miami.
Court documents reveal that Dominguez-Nieves collected at least $11,500 from family members of the migrants in South Florida. The funds were intended for smuggling individuals from Cuba into the United States. Dominguez-Nieves sent this money to her partner in Cuba, who then placed approximately 18 migrants on a small fishing vessel lacking life jackets. According to survivors, the captain appeared inexperienced with operating the boat. Tragically, the vessel sank about 30 miles into its journey toward the U.S., resulting in only two survivors and claiming the lives of many young children and teenagers among the victims.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Miami. Dominguez-Nieves could face up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot from the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region.
The investigation was conducted by CGIS Southeast Region with support from various agencies including U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is handling prosecution duties for this case.
For further information or updates regarding this press release or related court documents under case number 24-cr-20223, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl or www.flsd.uscourts.gov.
