A Dominican national pleaded guilty to operating an illegal migrant smuggling operation that resulted in the death of 11 people, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported.
Fermin Montilla, a 45-year old Dominican national, pleaded guilty after being charged with “bringing aliens to the United States at a place other than a designated point of entry resulting in death,” a press release from the DOJ found.
“According to court documents, Montilla was involved in a maritime human smuggling venture that attempted to bring migrants illegally to the United States,” the press release explains.
The illegal migrant smuggler, who now faces a sentence of up to life in prison, attempted to smuggle 48 illegal immigrants into the United States in 2022. Montilla was among 38 people who were rescued by the United States Coast Guard after his vessel capsized off the coast of Puerto Rico.
The case…
