Arrest of Haitian man for Human Smuggling in Florida

Federal authorities have apprehended Jimmy Metellus, a 48-year-old Haitian national, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following his deportation after a felony conviction related to a human smuggling incident that resulted in the deaths of ten migrants over a decade ago. Metellus, who recently completed a 14-year federal sentence, was a co-captain of a boat that capsized off the Florida coast in May 2009, leading to the tragic loss of nine migrants and an unborn child. The arrest was announced by Miami Sector Chief Patrol Agent Samuel Briggs II, highlighting that it stemmed from a coordinated multi-agency law enforcement operation. As an aggravated felon under U.S. immigration laws, Metellus now faces felony charges for illegal re-entry into the country after his removal. The 2009 smuggling incident saw sixteen survivors, with some treading water for over ten hours before being rescued by a passing boat. In the aftermath of the capsizing, investigations revealed that the vessel had departed from the Bahamas on May 9, 2009. A Good Samaritan alerted the U.S. Coast Guard to the sighting of individuals in the water, prompting a rescue operation approximately 16 miles off the coast of Palm Beach County. None of the survivors possessed visas or travel documentation, complicating the situation further. Metellus's previous conviction in 2010 included a nearly 14-year sentence for his involvement in the smuggling scheme. With the new charges, he faces a potential maximum imprisonment term of 20 years.