Twelve individuals have been charged in a superseding indictment for their alleged involvement in an international operation that smuggled Cuban nationals into the United States, committed asylum fraud, and laundered money. The scheme reportedly brought thousands of people illegally into the country for profit.
Court documents state that the defendants operated an alien smuggling organization (ASO) that prepared visa applications, moved millions of dollars through financial channels, and exploited immigration processes to facilitate unlawful entry.
“This DOJ is investigating and prosecuting human smuggling more aggressively than ever before, and Joint Task Force Alpha is the tip of the spear,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people — including many unaccompanied children — face severe, comprehensive justice.”
“This indictment exposes a criminal organization that smuggled people into the United States on a massive scale, and then fraudulently secured immigration benefits for them,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Posing as a legitimate immigration service, the defendants used social media promotions and false legal filings to attract new clients and perpetuate their fraud. The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners will continue to dismantle these schemes, protect vulnerable people from exploitation, and safeguard the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.”
“The defendants in this case conspired with others to deliberately violate our nation’s immigration laws while personally seeking to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Because of the interagency coordination and diligence of our dedicated law enforcement agencies, their crimes have been thwarted. We will continue working with our partners to protect our national borders.”
“This superseding indictment exposes the depth of a multi-year conspiracy of alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering that preyed on vulnerable individuals and weakened public trust in the immigration system,” said Acting Director Todd M. Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “This highlights the critical role ICE has in dismantling these criminal networks, combating immigration fraud, and ensuring criminals who abuse our systems are held accountable. We are absolute in our resolve to protect the integrity of our immigration system and safeguard our national security."
“It is because of the unfettered Department of Justice support we charge criminals with every available statute to provide consequences to those that erode the moral fabric of our society,” said Chief Jeffrey J. Dinise of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Miami Sector. “The message is clear, the United States is closed to illegal immigration and terrorist organizations, and those that make an attempt, will be met with fierce consequences. We are committed to protecting our Florida communities and safeguarding our nation.”
“Through diligent investigation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and our partners exposed a multi-national, multi-year, multi-million dollar criminal conspiracy operated by aliens that attempted to undermine our immigration system and flood our country with illegal aliens — none of whom had any intention of following our laws,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow.“This criminal organization operated a front for fake asylum claims, churning out frivolous applications around the country. To criminals who seek to exploit our immigration system: we will find you, shut down your schemes,and you will face justice.”
The indictment names Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez; Yuniel Lima-Santos; Liannys Yaiselys Vega-Perez; Marianny Lucia Lopez-Torres; Frandy Aragon-Diaz; Erik Ventura-Castro; Miguel Alejandro Martinez Vasconcelos; Walbis Pozo-Dutel; Emanuel Martinez Gonzalez; Luis Emmanuel Escalona-Marrero; Layra Libertad Treto Santos; and Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra.
Charges include conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain against all but one defendant—Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra—and various other charges such as asylum fraud conspiracy or money laundering conspiracy against specific individuals named in court documents.
Between January 2021 through June 2025, investigators allege that defendants promoted false visa services online claiming Cuban nationals could obtain U.S entry using fraudulent European citizenship claims. Hundreds of Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications were submitted using fabricated information.
Social media platforms like Instagram as well as encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp were used by organizers both for advertising their services—including via videos showing passports or tickets—and facilitating client communications under groups titled “TRÁMITE DE ESTA Y VISA DE TURISMO A USA PARA CIUDADANOS ESPAÑOLES” (“Processing ESTA & tourist Visas…for Spanish citizens”).
Investigators say fees ranged from $1,500 up to $40,000 per client with some cases involving charter flights transporting groups across borders at once—spending over $2.5 million on airfare alone while channeling more than $7 million through payment apps like Zelle over several years.
Analysis indicates more than $18 million flowed through 27 accounts tied directly or indirectly to participants during this period.
The group also allegedly handled unaccompanied minors—one incident involved instructing a teenage girl crossing into America alongside an unrelated adult man under false pretenses.
Defendants ran ASESORIA Y SERVICIOS MIGRATORIOS LLC—a purportedly legitimate business offering help filing asylum claims or work permit paperwork—but instead produced generic filings without informing clients or allowing them access to their own government records online.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which focuses on transnational human smuggling affecting border security between countries such as Mexico or Guatemala up through Colombia—with JTFA efforts resulting so far in hundreds arrested domestically/internationally plus numerous convictions/jail sentences since its inception.
HSI Tampa led domestic investigative efforts alongside Miami Border Patrol sector staff plus support from national-level units within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Human Smuggling Unit/CBP National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force among others—with assistance provided by authorities based in Cayman Islands during inquiry stages.
Trial Attorney Jenna Reed (Justice Department Human Rights/Special Prosecutions Section) along with Assistant U.S Attorney Courtney Derry (Middle District Florida) are prosecuting this matter as part Operation Take Back America—which seeks coordinated use resources combatting illegal migration/cartel activity nationally leveraging Project Safe Neighborhoods programs where possible.
All defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
