Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
A Bahamian national and a Haitian national have been charged in the Southern District of Florida following an incident involving a go-fast boat intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. The boat was heading towards South Florida with 20 passengers, including 12 from China, seven from Haiti, and one from Jamaica.
The defendants, Demetrius Luciano Kemp, 27, of the Bahamas, and Mikewendzly Nestar Norelus, 22, of Haiti, are facing charges related to failure to heave to as per 18 U.S.C. §2237(a)(1). Additionally, Kemp is charged with unlawfully encouraging or inducing aliens to enter the United States under 8 U.S.C. §1324(a)(1)(A)(iv), and re-entry of a removed alien according to 8 U.S.C. §1326(a).
According to the affidavit supporting the charges: On February 9th, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter identified a suspicious vessel about three nautical miles west of Bimini, Bahamas. Despite being followed by the cutter through international waters into U.S. territorial waters, the go-fast boat continued without stopping even after CBP agents activated lights and sirens and issued commands for it to halt. The situation escalated until CBP disabled the vessel.
Upon boarding the vessel, agents found Norelus at the helm and Kemp in another seat along with 20 other individuals who did not have authorization to enter the United States on that date. Checks revealed that Kemp had previously been deported from the United States in July 2024.
The two defendants were taken into custody pending trial while the other passengers were returned to their point of origin in the Bahamas.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida along with Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office.
HSI Miami is leading the investigation with assistance from CBP and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 7th District. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting this case.
It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are considered innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
For further information or related documents concerning this case under number 22-cr-20255 can be accessed via www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
