http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 90463.html

Dec. 9, 2006, 1:06AM
Men sentenced for smuggling immigrants aboard yachts

BROWNSVILLE — Three people convicted of helping smuggle illegal immigrants past federal checkpoints aboard a luxury boat have been sentenced to prison.

Luis Alberto Gutierrez-Zapien, Robert Milton Moore and Baldemar Valdez Jr. are among five people accused in the scheme. Prosecutors say they used Breakaway Cruises, a South Padre Island charter boat company, to help ferry illegal immigrants from Port Isabel to Corpus Christi between July 1, 2005, and May 21, 2006.

Gutierrez-Zapien, the alleged middleman, was sentenced to six months in prison on conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal immigrants within the United States.

Moore, who managed Breakaway Cruises, was sentenced to two years in federal prison on charges of transporting illegal immigrants within the United States and criminal forfeiture.

Valdez, who was a deck hand for Breakaway Cruises, was sentenced to four months in federal prison on one count of transporting illegal immigrants within the United States.

The three were sentenced Thursday, a day after two others accused in the case also received prison sentences.

Breakaway Cruises owner Mack Daniel Bryant received a two year sentence and ship captain Norman Michael Walker was ordered to serve one year in federal prison.