On January 21, a 26-year-old woman named Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves from Sebring, Florida, admitted her guilt in federal court for conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States. This illegal activity ultimately resulted in a tragic boat sinking off the coast of Florida.
According to court documents and testimony, it was revealed that Dominguez-Nieves, who had entered the U.S. illegally, played a significant role in a human smuggling operation that started in November 2022. She collected a minimum of $11,500 from Cuban migrant families who were seeking a safe passage to the U.S. Once she gathered the funds, she transferred the money to her co-conspirator in Cuba, who then arranged for the transportation of the migrants.
The migrants, including children as young as nine months old, were placed aboard a small, overloaded fishing boat that lacked life jackets. The boat’s captain was apparently unskilled, and the vessel sank approximately 30 miles into its journey to the United States. Only two people survived, while 16 others, including several children, drowned. The sea revealed the bodies of four of the victims.
Human smuggling operations frequently prioritize profit over the safety and well-being of individuals, as tragically demonstrated by this incident. The victims, who ranged from infants to teenagers, included two 16-year-olds.
Dominguez-Nieves could potentially spend the rest of her life in prison, with a minimum of five years. The sentencing hearing is set for April 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Miami.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service have announced the plea, highlighting the seriousness of the case. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, and various local agencies, including the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller.