West Palm Beach, Fla. — As a result of a joint effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and the Office of Air and Marine, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, a human smuggling organization was successfully impacted by U.S. law enforcement agencies.

On February 16, the Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine and the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a vessel at sea near Stuart, Fla., resulting in the apprehension of 11 Brazilians and 1 Peruvian, as well as the boat operator, a Cuban citizen.

On March 1, Abdiel Agustin Borges (U.S. citizen), Yoel Ortiz (citizen of Cuba), and Fabiano Augusto Amorim (citizen of Brazil) were charged in a 25-count indictment for violation of Title 8 USC Section 1324, Alien Smuggling for Financial Gain.

On July 27, Abdiel Agustin Borges was sentenced to 15 months incarceration, 24 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment for Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens for Financial Gain.

On August 23, Yoel Ortiz was sentenced to 36 months incarceration, 24 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment for Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens for Financial Gain.

Fabiano Augusto Amorim pled guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens for Financial Gain and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandy Geller, Southern District of Florida, West Palm Beach, Fla.

The U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami Sector is committed to ensuring America’s borders remain safe, and that dangerous individuals are prevented from making it further into the interior of the United States and into our communities.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity, including drug and alien smuggling, and remain anonymous by calling the Border Patrol toll free number at (877) 872-7435.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.