Last individual sentenced in Cuban alien smuggling conspiracy

TAMPA, Fla. — The final individual of a Cuban alien smuggling conspiracy was sentenced to five years in federal prison Wednesday for conspiring to bring 73 illegal Cuban aliens to the United States and for bringing 13 illegal Cuban aliens to the United States. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service.

Yoel Emilio Baez-Hernandez, 41, of Hialeah, was also ordered to pay a $73,000 fine and to forfeit an outboard motor go-fast vessel, a 2006 BMW vehicle, a liquor store license, equipment and inventory that are traceable to proceeds of the offenses. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $730,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. A federal jury found Baez-Hernandez guilty July 2.

According to court testimony and documents, Baez-Hernandez and his cousin, Edel Mesa-Hernandez, 36, of Miami, approached Carlos Velazquez-Roman, 41, of North Port, in late 2006 or early 2007, and suggested they start smuggling Cubans into the U.S. for profit, using a dual outboard engine go-fast vessel that Baez-Hernandez had purchased for that purpose. Between March 2007 and December 2009, at least 73 illegal aliens were smuggled into the U.S. The smugglers charged an average of $10,000 per alien smuggled. One of the last trips made before Baez-Hernandez left the conspiracy was in May 2009, when Velazquez-Roman and Baez-Hernandez traveled to Cuba and smuggled 13 Cuban aliens into the U.S., including Baez-Hernandez's aunt. The conspiracy continued after December 2009, when Velazquez-Roman purchased another go-fast vessel. He and Mesa-Hernandez made additional trips to Cuba to smuggle more aliens into the United States. The last such trip took place in October 2013.

Altogether, the conspiracy accounted for more than 150 illegal Cuban aliens being brought into the United States between 2007 and 2013. Also assisting in this conspiracy were Jasmine Santos-Martinez, 41, of North Port, the spouse of Velazquez-Roman, Mario Emilio Tamayo-Mejias, 52, of Port Charlotte, who assisted Velazquez-Roman on a smuggling trip in May 2013, and Amable Gonzalez-Mandin, 56, of Hialeah, who made arrangements for two illegal Cuban aliens to be smuggled into the United States in May 2013.

Velazquez-Roman pleaded guilty June 6 and was sentenced Sept. 10, to four years of imprisonment and ordered to pay a judgment in the amount of $1.53 million. In addition, he was ordered to forfeit his residence and other property, a vehicle, his go-fast vessel and $30,000 found in his home.

Santos-Martinez pleaded guilty May 21 and was sentenced Sept. 10 to time served – approximately six months and five days. She was also ordered to pay a judgment in the amount of $1.53 million, in addition to forfeiting her residence and other property, a vehicle, the go-fast vessel and $30,000 found in her home.

Tamayo-Mejias pleaded guilty June 6 and was sentenced Sept. 10 to five years of probation and ordered to pay a judgment in the amount of $50,000.

Gonzalez-Mandin pleaded guilty May 27 and was sentenced to five years' probation Sept.10.

Mesa-Hernandez pleaded guilty April 29 and was sentenced Aug.1 to one year and one day imprisonment and ordered to pay a judgment in the amount of $1.53 million.