Two Miami men, Ezequiel Perez Benitez, 37, and Miguel Avoy, 36, have entered guilty pleas on federal charges related to a conspiracy to smuggle aliens into the United States. According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, they engaged in "go-fast" boat operations from Miami-Dade County to the Bahamas' territorial waters, starting in July 2024 through March.
During their return voyages, the boats were intercepted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and the U.S. Coast Guard in U.S. waters. Found involved in the conspiracy were 69 aliens from various countries, including China and Ecuador. Having either faced prosecution for illegal reentry, the aliens were returned to the Bahamas or turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further immigration proceedings, intercepted by the U.S. officials at sea.
A Chinese national, Baisheng An, a third co-defendant, also pleaded guilty on June 9 to related conspiracy and alien transportation charges. An was nabbed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) amid an operational sting designed to bring down the human smuggling network as told by the Justice Department's announcement.
Miguel Avoy received a 24-month prison sentence for his involvement in the scheme, while Perez awaits his sentencing on October 30. For his role in the conspiracy, he faces a hefty fine of up to $250,000 and a maximum of 10 years in prison, followed by a possible three-year supervised release. According to the press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, a number of additional co-conspirators have been charged in related, but separate cases.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of HSI's Miami Field Office shared the news of the guilty pleas. Special Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Stiehl is currently the lead on prosecuting this case. Florida's Southern District Court and the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida provide online access to related documents and updates on this ongoing matter at their respective websites.
