A 31-year-old Bahamian man has pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges in federal court after U.S. authorities intercepted a go-fast boat carrying 13 undocumented migrants off the coast of Miami-Dade County.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Shakerio Michael Jones was spotted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel on December 19, 2024, piloting a vessel from The Bahamas toward the U.S. mainland. A CBP aircraft first identified the suspicious activity and notified agents on the water.
When the vessel entered U.S. territorial waters, CBP’s Air and Maritime Operations team intercepted the boat and ordered Jones to stop. All passengers were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber for processing. Authorities determined the 13 passengers had no legal authorization to enter the country. They were nationals of the United Kingdom, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, India, and The Bahamas.
Jones, who had previously been deported from the United States, was arrested and brought to shore to face charges. The other individuals were returned to The Bahamas.
Jones pleaded guilty on April 24 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres, who recommended the plea be accepted. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra adopted the recommendation on April 30 and officially adjudicated Jones guilty.
He is scheduled for sentencing on July 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Miami. Jones faces up to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami with support from CBP and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 7th District. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl.
