Boat captain pleads guilty in fatal migrant smuggling case

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Friday, 04.10.09
Boat captain pleads guilty in fatal migrant smuggling case
Associated Press

Federal authorities say a boat captain from the Dominican Republic has pleaded guilty to smuggling illegal immigrants after his vessel ran aground near Miami, killing six people.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Crecencio Hernandez pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiring to encourage and induce aliens to enter the U.S. illegally. He was charged in November.

The passengers from Brazil and the Dominican Republic said they paid the 62-year-old Hernandez between $4,000 and $15,000 to be smuggled into the United States. Authorities say Hernandez acknowledged he was smuggling people to the United States.

On Oct. 31, after eight days at sea, the boat hit a sandbar near Miami. Several passengers made it to shore, but six were found dead.

http://www.miamiherald.com/459/story/993897.html