Two Cuban nationals have been found guilty in a federal alien smuggling case after attempting to transport 18 Ecuadorian migrants from the Bahamas to the United States, federal authorities announced.
According to court records and hearing testimony, Yordany Capote-Leon, 31, and Yuniel Cabrera Piloto, 44, departed U.S. shores on October 24, 2024, in a cuddy cabin-style boat headed for Bahamian waters. Once there, the pair loaded 18 individuals onto the vessel and set course back to the United States.
Their actions drew the attention of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Manowar, whose crew tracked the vessel as it reentered U.S. waters near Key Largo, Florida. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers aboard a CBP Air and Marine Operations boat approached and ordered the suspects to stop. Capote-Leon and Piloto ignored the commands, prompting officers to fire warning shots before the vessel finally came to a halt.
All 20 individuals aboard — including Capote-Leon and Piloto — were transferred to the USCG Cutter Manowar. Authorities later determined the passengers were Ecuadorian nationals with no legal status to enter the United States. Among them were Jorge Fabian Albarrasin Cabrera, Marcelo Patricio Pesantez-Merchan, and Juan Carlos Villa Arpi, all of whom had previously been deported from the U.S.
Capote-Leon, Piloto, and the three previously removed migrants were brought ashore to face federal charges. All five have since pleaded guilty. The remaining 13 individuals were repatriated to the Bahamas.
On March 4, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Capote-Leon to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Piloto pleaded guilty on March 6 before Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D’Angelo. On April 4, Judge Moore formally accepted the plea and adjudicated him guilty. Piloto is scheduled for sentencing on May 8 and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, with support from CBP and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 7th District. The prosecution is being led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of HSI Miami.
