MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced the conviction of Oscar Alfredo Bustamante-Semerene on charges of attempted human smuggling, highlighting the critical role of interagency cooperation in combating illegal activities in South Florida’s waters.
The case, which involved multiple federal, state, and local agencies, underscores the ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and prevent dangerous smuggling operations.
“The success of this case was only possible because of the strong cooperation between multiple agencies,” Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said. “Our partnerships with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection ensure that we can effectively stop these dangerous smuggling operations.”
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On July 15, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a routine safety inspection of a 24-foot Sea Ray vessel in Cotton Key Basin, Islamorada, at Mile Marker 86. The vessel was operated by Bustamante-Semerene, a Venezuelan citizen, with passenger Alejandro Guache-Valdez, a Cuban national. During the inspection, officers became suspicious due to inconsistent information provided by Bustamante-Semerene.
Further investigation revealed that the vessel was part of a planned operation to transport six Cuban nationals from Playa Baracoa, Cuba, into Florida. The U.S. Coast Guard terminated the voyage and escorted the vessel to Station Islamorada for additional investigation.
Upon arrival, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Border Patrol agents took custody of Bustamante-Semerene and Guache-Valdez. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Border Patrol Intelligence Division collaborated to investigate the vessel’s involvement in human smuggling.
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A key breakthrough came when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Joel Slough analyzed the vessel’s Garmin GPS system, which revealed a direct route to a known Cuban coastal location. This evidence, consistent with statements made by Bustamante-Semerene, led to an arrest warrant for the suspect.
Bustamante-Semerene entered a plea of no contest to the charge of attempted human smuggling. He was sentenced by Judge James Morgan to 120 days in the Monroe County Jail, followed by over four years of probation. His probation conditions include a ban on entering Monroe County or Florida waters, 30 hours of community service annually, and payment of fines, court costs, and investigation fees. Additionally, Bustamante-Semerene may face immigration consequences as a result of his plea.
“This was an outstanding case and conviction brought about by the hard work of all involved,” Sheriff Rick Ramsay said. He expressed disappointment, however, that the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not file federal charges in the case, noting Bustamante-Semerene’s alleged ties to the violent Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua.”
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Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of interagency cooperation.
“This case is a great example of what can be accomplished when agencies work together to investigate and prosecute serious crimes like human smuggling,” Mansfield said. He also praised Assistant State Attorney Trey Evans for his role in securing the conviction.
As the case against Guache-Valdez continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to help prevent future smuggling attempts.
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