A 56-year-old man was sentenced last week to 20 years in federal prison for smuggling Cuban nationals into the United States, according to authorities.
Antonio Comin, of Miami-Dade County, was found guilty of being the mastermind of an organization that conspired to smuggle Cuban nations, including a convicted drug dealer, into the U.S. for profit, officials said.
Comin was sentenced for one count of conspiracy, 50 counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the U.S.; 47 counts of alien smuggling for private financial gain, and one count of bringing an aggravated felon into the United States, authorities said.
Here is what the evidence showed, according to officials:
- In January 2012, the organization successfully landed 29 Cuban nationals on Big Munson Island in the Florida Keys following a high speed chase with the U.S. Coast Guard, and a conscious decision by the smugglers to run their vessel aground instead of being captured at sea.
- Of the 29 Cuban nationals that landed that day, one, Rogelio Martin-Hernandez, had been previously deported back to Cuba after serving 22 years for cocaine trafficking.
- In September 2012, another smuggling venture was attempted; however, the vessel used ran out of gas near Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas.
- An attempt by Comin and his organization to save that trip was thwarted when a second vessel, carrying additional gas, broke down less than two miles from the smuggling vessel.
- The occupants of both vessels, including four co-defendants of Comin and 21 Cuban nationals, were rescued by the U.S.Coast Guard Cutter Oak.
Five co-defendants have been sentenced for their involvement in the smuggling organization to sentences ranging from more than eight years in prison to 18 months behind bars, federal officials said. Another co-defendant will be sentenced next week.