MIAMI — April 12, 2025 — A Cuban woman has been sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison for her involvement in a smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of 16 Cuban migrants, including several children.
The sentencing took place Friday in Miami federal court, where 25-year-old Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves was held accountable for her role in organizing a voyage that ended in disaster. On November 16, 2024, a small fishing boat overloaded with 18 migrants departed Playa Jaimanitas, Cuba, heading toward South Florida. Approximately 30 miles into the journey, the vessel capsized in the Florida Straits. Only two passengers survived.
Survivors described harrowing conditions: no life jackets, too many people on board, and an inexperienced captain. In the days that followed, three victims’ bodies washed up in Monroe County. All 16 deaths were ruled drownings.
Dominguez-Nieves, who entered the U.S. unlawfully just a month before the trip, admitted to collecting more than $11,500 from relatives of the passengers living in South Florida. She pleaded guilty in January to charges including conspiracy to smuggle undocumented migrants resulting in death.
Court filings detailed a history of severe abuse in her relationship with her boyfriend, who allegedly orchestrated the smuggling trip. The documents revealed years of violence and coercion, beginning when Dominguez-Nieves was just 15. Under threats and manipulation, she followed his instructions, including traveling to the U.S. to help collect payment for the journey.
Despite her defense team requesting a five-year sentence, the judge imposed a 90-month term, citing the devastating consequences of the smuggling attempt. Federal prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the lives lost.
An investigation into the broader operation remains ongoing.
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