Thread: FL - Sentencing for human smuggler who paid salesman to ship Brazilians

November 8, 2012|By Brett Clarkson, Sun Sentinel

A man who helped smuggle undocumented Brazilians into Palm Beach County aboard a sport fishing boat will be sentenced Friday.

Sebastiao Nassimbeni Fihlo, 35, pleaded guilty in August to two smuggling-related counts that could land him behind bars for a maximum 20 years.

But his attorney, Ian Goldstein, said it's more likely that Fihlo will be sentenced to three years for his role in the operation, which involved paying a boat salesman to transport undocumented Brazilians aboard the boat he sold to Fihlo.

The salesman, who is not named in the criminal complaint, was paid by Fihlo and his unnamed associates to pilot the boat.

Goldstein said Fihlo wasn't a mastermind, however, calling him a "small fish" who was recruited by the elusive members of an international smuggling network.

"The guys that run these international smuggling rings, they remain anonymous," Goldstein said. "They're like ghosts, they hire people to do the dirty work on the ground."

Seven smuggling trips were made in total, with the salesman being paid $2,000 per person, per trip, according to filings in federal court.

The boat, a 26-foot C-Hawk, was registered to Fihlo, who along with several unnamed associates bought the vessel from the salesman at a Port St. Lucie boat shop on Aug. 18, 2011.

Fihlo and his associates told the salesman they would pay him to take them to the Bahamas and back aboard the boat. On Aug. 25, 2011, the salesman took them to the Bahamas and back to Fort Pierce the next day without clearing U.S. Customs, earning $1,600 for the trip.

The next month, the salesman agreed to begin making trips to pick up undocumented Brazilians.

The case is one of several in recent months to involve Brazilians attempting to enter the U.S. illegally by boat via the Bahamas. On Sept. 16, authorities intercepted 11 Brazilians attempting to sneak into the U.S. by boat near Boynton Beach Inlet.

On Oct. 8, agents stopped 13 would-be migrants from Brazil, Romania, Jamaica, and Haiti about 12 nautical miles east of the Boynton Beach-Lake Worth area. A Miami couple, charged in October with smuggling offenses, are accused of being part of a network that shuttled undocumented Brazilians into Florida by boat from the Bahamas, say federal court documents.

Two South Florida immigration attorneys both used the word "desperate" to describe Brazilians who enter the U.S. illegally. They said family, above all, is the motivating factor.

Human smuggler who paid salesman to ship Brazilians to be sentenced - Sun Sentinel

Originally Posted by Jean

November 8, 2012|

Two South Florida immigration attorneys both used the word "desperate" to describe Brazilians who enter the U.S. illegally. They said family, above all, is the motivating factor.

OK, but too many American families are also suffering. Also, Brazil has a highly unequal income distribution. Not much that Americans can do about that. If the government of Brazil ever wants to help its poorest people, we could contribute to that effort. But at home the task is to put our own people to work.

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Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade