A federal jury convicted Omaily Sanchez Taveras, 36, of the Dominican Republic, of alien smuggling after a two-day trial. For his conviction, Taveras faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of incarceration and a maximum fine of $250,000, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, on October 13, 2024, federal authorities received a tip of a suspicious vessel in the Fortuna Bay area of St. Thomas with what appeared to be aliens on board. Custom and Border Protection Air and Marine Interdiction agents traveled to the area and encountered the vessel dead in the water near West Cay. On board the vessel were four Romanians, four Dominican Republic nationals and two were Brazilians who all paid Taveras to take them to Culebra, Puerto Rico.
