VIRGIN ISLANDS – A 71-year-old French national was charged with trying to illegally smuggle 38 Cubans and one St. Lucia citizen into the United States, officials said.
Federal agents arrested Alain Rene Leichtnam last month and charged him with encouraging and inducing illegal immigrants to enter the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe of the District of the Virgin Islands.
Leichtnam made a court appearance last week. He remains in custody, officials said.
According to the complaint, U.S. Customs and Border Protection , Office of Air and Marine and the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a catamaran vessel, Mazurka, off of the coast of St. John, Virgin Islands, in the early morning hours of April 29.
The vessel contained 38 Cuban nationals and one national of St. Lucia.
Leichtnam is facing up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of the charges, officials said.