OCALA, Fla. – Dustin Sean McCabe, the owner of Florida Scuba Charters, Inc., is facing serious charges after allegedly operating illegal scuba diving charters, leading to a tragic death.
According to the indictment, McCabe falsely claimed his vessel, the Southern Comfort, was for recreational use when he bought it in 2020.
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He then allegedly conducted unauthorized paid scuba charters, during which his negligent operation of the boat resulted in a fatality. Following this incident, McCabe was barred from providing paid services with the vessel.
Not one to give up, McCabe allegedly used his company to fraudulently obtain two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
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If convicted of seaman’s manslaughter, McCabe faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted of making false statements and wire fraud, McCabe faces a maximum penalty of five years and 20 years, respectively.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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