A Florida woman has pleaded guilty to a human smuggling conspiracy that tragically resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including young children and teenagers. On Tuesday, 26-year-old Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves of Sebring, Florida, entered her plea in federal court in Miami, accepting responsibility for her role in the scheme that attempted to bring migrants from Cuba into the United States. Court documents and hearings revealed that Dominguez-Nieves, who is in the country illegally herself, had collected over $11,500 from the families of migrants with the promise of safe passage, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The evidence presented in court confirmed that in November 2022, Dominguez-Nieves had transferred the collected money to her co-conspirator in Cuba. Subsequently, migrants were packed onto a small fishing vessel, ill-equipped for their journey—lacking both life jackets and a competent captain. Tragedy struck when the vessel sank merely 30 miles from its origin, as it was later reported that the captain did not appear to even know how to properly operate the vessel. Of the 18 migrants aboard, only two survived the disastrous journey. The death toll included children as young as nine months.
According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, four bodies were recovered at sea by authorities, and their cause of death was ruled as drowning. Dominguez-Nieves now faces a life sentence with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Miami.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot announced the guilty plea and pointed out the collaborative efforts of various agencies in the investigation. The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region, with assistance from the 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 (HCSO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is to lead the prosecution.
For those seeking further details and updates on this case, the United States Attorney’s Office encourages visits to their website. Additionally, related court documents and information can be accessed on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website or through their PACER system, under case number 24-cr-20223.
