A federal jury convicted Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, Florida, for charges including seaman's manslaughter and fraud. The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida reported the verdict following allegations of misconduct related to the operation of his vessel, Southern Comfort.
McCabe purchased a 48-foot boat in March 2020 and falsely told the Coast Guard he planned to use it for recreational purposes. Despite removing the vessel's main deck engine controls to prepare for paid scuba charters, McCabe took paying passengers on a dangerous trip on March 28, 2020. The next day, McCabe operated the Southern Comfort again, ignoring mechanical issues, and a malfunction led to the death of a diver.
McCabe was also found guilty of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being prohibited from operating his vessel, he continued to work at the marina and applied for loans with fraudulent documentation about his business operations and payroll.
McCabe faces up to 10 years for seaman's manslaughter, 5 years for false statements, and 20 years for wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for June 12. The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office with support from other agencies.
