A group of five Cubans were arrested after being linked to a human trafficking operation in the Florida Keys, according to information from authorities on August 20 of this year.
Arrested were Dianelys Perez Escourido, 44 years old, Omar Livan Ripoll Perez, 28 years old, from Camaguey, and Humberto Tamayo, 48 years old, all from Miami, along with Victor Victor Febles Gualpa, from Havana, now resident in West Palm Beach, and Joel Gil Egued, 48 years old, from Cape Coral.
Profit-seeking traffickers often exploit migrants attempting to illegally enter the United States, with little regard for their safety and well-being.
U.S. Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection agents conducted an operation that resulted in these arrests. The individuals were found to be facilitating the arrival of 20 foreign nationals, including people from Ecuador and China, near Key Largo.
The arrival of this group of migrants to the United States on a secret boat prompted the intervention of the authorities.
The U.S. Attorney's Office initially decided not to prosecute the five defendants on 20 felony counts related to human trafficking. However, the State Attorney's Office decided to take over the case and file charges at the state level. If convicted, the defendants could face harsh punishments.
Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay stressed the zero-tolerance approach toward criminal activity by both his office and the State Attorney's Office, saying they will relentlessly pursue justice for those involved.
