Captain of alleged smuggling boat charged over drownings

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Wednesday, 11.26.08

Captain of alleged smuggling boat charged over drownings

The Dominican man at the helm of an alleged immigrant-smuggling boat trip that ended with six drownings in Biscayne Bay has been indicted on charges of alien-smuggling resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami said Tuesday.

Crecencio Hernandez, the captain, faces life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say Hernandez, 62, skippered the rusty freighter that ran aground off Virginia Key on Oct. 31 with Dominican and Brazilian illegal immigrants on board. At least six of the passengers drowned when they jumped into the bay to evade capture.

Surviving passengers told investigators they paid smugglers in the Dominican Republic $4,000 to $15,000 each to be taken to the United States. The smugglers gave Hernandez, who told agents he was a fisherman by trade, $500 if he agreed to navigate the freighter, according to a criminal complaint filed in court earlier this month.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/787767.html

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Just a matter of time until a local "freedomfighter" drops by to inform us the Dominicans were "fleeing" from Leonel Fernández Reyna, and the Brazilians had to "flee" from Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. Wouldn't be consistant, otherwise, right?

http://dominicanosenwashington.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2008/07/presidentefernandez5.jpg

Leonel Fernández Reyna

http://www.nndb.com.nyud.net:8090/people/097/000044962/lula-da-silva.jpg

Flee for your lives, it's Lula da Silva!
God, help me, HELP me! He's a leftist.

[Billy Burnett]

1. What?! No D.R. nor a Brazilian adjustment act?

They should've claimed that they're Cubans.

If they were then within 24 hours they'd be released on the streets of Miami with a long list of agencies, taxpayer programs, and special perks, available to Cubans only, to assist their "transition" into the US.