Sept, 14, 2004 – A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted Kevin Laville and Carter Magloire charging them with one count each of conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens, bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain, and bringing in illegal aliens. The grand jury, according to Acting U. S Attorney Anthony J. Jenkins, also returned indictments against Luis Antonio Peguero-Arias charging him with re-entry after deportation and improper entry by alien and Hector Vazquez-Delgado charging him with misuse of entry document, false statement, false claim to U.S. citizenship and improper entry by alien.
The indictments stem from the Aug. 17, apprehension of approximately 32 illegal aliens aboard the motor vessel Pearl Island by officers of the V. I. Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The vessel departed Dominica and ran aground in the vicinity of Protestant Cay on St. Croix at about 5 a.m. that day. Several of the people swam to shore in the Christiansted harbor, but the majority of them were captured on board the vessel. The nationality of those involved included Cubans, Haitians, Santo Domingans, two Dominicans and one Brazilian.
A press release from Jenkins' office said the indictment alleges that the two Dominicans, Laville and Magloire, were the operators of the vessel. The indictment further alleges that Peguero-Arias, an illegal alien and a passenger aboard the vessel, had been previously deported from the United States. Finally, the indictment against Vazquez-Delgado alleges that he presented a birth certificate issued to a Puerto Rican and falsely represented himself to be a U. S. citizen born in Puerto Rico.
Defendants Laville and Magloire face up to 10 years imprisonment. Peguero-Arias faces up to two years imprisonment, and Vazquez-Delgado faces up to 10 years imprisonment.
Jenkins thanked Roberto Medina, special agent-in-charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Commissioner Elton Lewis of the V. I. Police Department, for their work in successfully investigating the case.
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