Man charged in deadly Florida boat capsizing
2 hours ago

MIAMI (AFP) — US authorities on Monday arraigned a Haitian man accused of trying to smuggle Haitian immigrants into the United States last week in an overloaded boat that capsized, which they said killed ten people.

Jimmy Metellus, 33, a native of Haiti, was arrested Saturday and faces criminal charges "for alien smuggling that places in jeopardy the life of any person, and that results in the death of another person," the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said.

A boat believed to be carrying 30 Haitian immigrants capsized early Wednesday off Florida's Atlantic coast and survivors were in the water for ten hours before they were found.

The US Coast Guard, who searched for survivors until Friday, said that nine people were killed, between three and five people were missing and 16 others were rescued.

A tenth victim was added Monday because "a fetus was removed from one of the pregnant, deceased females. The Medical Examiner's Office issued a separate death certificate due to its potential viability," ICE said.

"ICE strongly discourages people from taking to the seas and attempting to illegally enter the United States through maritime means," said Anthony Mangione, special agent in charge of the investigations office in Miami.

"Tragically, many have lost their lives while attempting this illegal and treacherous trip."

The survivors told officials they had paid traffickers to be smuggled to the United States.

Metellus has a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday in West Palm Beach to hear the charges, the statement said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... fEqayKSNLQ