Two Miami men have pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in a conspiracy to smuggle immigrants into the United States by sea.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 2024 and March 2025, Ezequiel Perez Benitez, 37, and Miguel Avoy, 36, participated in at least three immigrant smuggling ventures.
As part of the conspiracy, “go-fast” boats would travel from Miami-Dade County to the territorial waters of the Bahamas. During each return trip to the United States, the boats were intercepted in U.S. waters by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Overall, the conspiracy involved 69 immigrants of various nationalities, including Chinese and Ecuadorian nationals.
The conspiracy also involved transporting immigrants within the United States after unlawful entry. A third co-defendant, Baisheng An, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty on June 9 to charges related to conspiracy and transportation of immigrants. An was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during an operation targeting the human smuggling network.
All immigrants interdicted at sea were either prosecuted for illegal reentry, returned to their country of departure—in this case, the Bahamas—or turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further immigration proceedings.
Several additional co-conspirators have been charged in separate, related cases.
Avoy was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30 at 10:30 a.m. in Miami. He faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of HSI Miami made the announcement.
HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from CBP-AMO and USCG Southeast Coast Guard District.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.
