A Dominican national, Fermin Montilla, was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of 11 individuals. According to court documents, Montilla piloted a vessel on May 12, 2022, carrying 48 people from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico with the intent of entering the United States illegally. During the journey, the vessel capsized, resulting in multiple fatalities.
"The defendant attempted to illegally smuggle 48 migrants into the United States, leading to the tragic deaths of 11 people," stated Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. She emphasized that human smugglers exploit vulnerable individuals for profit without regard for their safety.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico highlighted the risks posed by human smuggling operations: "Human smuggling operations not only violate U.S. law and threaten our national security, but they also endanger the lives of the smuggled migrants and result in death as in this case."
Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan stressed the importance of deterring such activities: "It is essential to send a strong message to individuals that take advantage of the vulnerable by endangering lives undermining the safety and security of our communities."
Montilla pleaded guilty on September 13, 2024, to one count of bringing aliens to a non-designated port of entry resulting in death.
The investigation was led by HSI San Juan with support from several agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Coast Guard. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Angela Buckner and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena Daniel.
The Justice Department's Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program conducted this investigation focusing on human smuggling networks posing significant security or humanitarian concerns.
In June, a legislative proposal titled “Deterring Human Smuggling and Harm to Victims Act of 2024” was transmitted to Congress by the Justice Department aiming at increasing penalties for dangerous smugglers and addressing various aspects related to human smuggling offenses.
