WASHINGTON D.C.
Eight defendants were charged in an indictment, unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Louisiana, for their involvement in an international scheme to smuggle 24 illegal immigrants from Honduras into Louisiana, officials stated.
The victims were going to board the Motor Vessel (M/V) “Pop” to enter the U.S. The vessel is owned by one of the defendants, according to authorities.
One of the defendants was also arrested for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 24 kilograms of cocaine seized on this boat which the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted off the coast of Grand Isle, Louisiana, in February 2022.
Carl Allison, aka Car, 46, of Irwin, Pennsylvania, and Lindomar De La Rosa, aka Omar, aka Dr. Diablo, 37, of Atlanta, were arrested Tuesday, officials stated.
Co-defendants Josue Alexander Flores-Villeda, 35, Darrel Martinez, 40, and Lenard Cooper, 39, are in custody on separate warrants.
Co-defendants Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 35, and Hennessey Devon Cooper, 26, remain on bond. The final defendant, Lance Vroon, 39, remains at large.
The eight individuals were charged with conspiring to bring aliens to the United States and encouraging and inducing illegal immigrants to come to, enter, and reside in the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain; and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
Josue Alexander Flores-Villeda, aka Alex, 35, of Honduras, is additionally charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride.
According to the indictment, from on or about December 2021 until on or about Feb. 14, 2022, Allison, De La Rosa, and the other defendants attempted to bring 24 undocumented persons from Honduras to the United States aboard the M/V “Pop,” owned by Allison.
The Coast Guard interdicted the M/V Pop off the coast of Grand Isle on Feb. 15. Twenty-four kilograms of cocaine were seized from the captain’s cabin aboard the ship.
If convicted of the human smuggling offenses, each defendant is facing up to 10 years in prison. If convicted of the drug conspiracy offense, Villeda faces between 10 years and life in prison.