Boat captain sentenced for immigrant smuggling after wreck near Miami that killed 6

1:34 PM CDT, June 22, 2009

MIAMI (AP) — Federal authorities say a boat captain from the Dominican Republic has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to smuggling illegal immigrants.

Six people died when Crecencio Hernandez' vessel ran aground near Miami on Oct. 31.

Judge William Zloch gave Hernandez a nine-and-a-half year prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release and deportation, on one count of conspiring to encourage and induce aliens to enter the U.S. illegally.

The passengers from Brazil and the Dominican Republic said they paid the 62-year-old Hernandez between $4,000 and $15,000 to be smuggled into the U.S.

The boat hit a sandbar near Miami after eight days at sea. Several passengers made it to shore, but six were found dead.

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/nationworld/ ... 7705.story