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Two suspected smugglers face federal charges in immigrant's death

The Associated Press
Posted January 22 2007, 6:48 PM EST

MIAMI -- Two men have been arrested on federal smuggling charges related to the death of an illegal immigrant from Jamaica, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Monday.

Ricky Thompson, 40, identified as a Bahamian boat captain, and Leon Brice Johnson, 38, a U.S. citizen, are charged in a criminal complaint with alien smuggling that resulted in death, federal prosecutors said.

Thompson and Johnson each face a maximum of life in prison if convicted. It was not immediately clear if either man had an attorney.

Martin County authorities discovered an abandoned 35-foot motorboat grounded at Blowing Rocks Preserve in Hobe Sound on Dec. 28, according to the complaint. Authorities also found 83 pounds of marijuana and a kilogram of cocaine near the boat. Nine illegal aliens from Jamaica, Haiti and Romania were eventually taken into custody. The body of a tenth Jamaican migrant was found floating nearby in the water.

According to the complaint, each migrant had paid Thompson between $2,000 and $4,000 for transportation from Freeport, Bahamas to the U.S. As the boat neared shore, the migrants were forced into the water, authorities allege.

The two men are charged with murder in Martin County, but the state was expected to drop its case in favor of the federal charges, state prosecutor Nita Denton said Monday.

Thompson and Johnson have been transferred to federal custody, Denton said.