Published Wednesday, January 23, 2002 in
The Miami Herald
MIAMI -- (AP) -- Two Cuban-Americans accused of helping run an
alien-smuggling mission that ended with a woman's death on a barren Bahamian
island a year ago will not face the death penalty, prosecutors decided.
The crew allegedly forced seven people overboard to gain speed and flee
Cuban border guards, who stopped to rescue the seven.
Cira Rodriguez, who suffered fatal head injuries in the flight, was buried
on deserted Anguilla Cay before the voyage to Florida was completed.
The Justice Department must decide whether to pursue the death penalty in
cases where deaths occur, but federal prosecutors filed a notice last week
saying they would not pursue it.
Jorge Aleman, who is accused of charging $8,000 for the illegal passage, and
Gaspar Coll Gonzalez would face a possible life sentence if convicted. Trial is
set June 3 before U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King.
Five other Miami area residents were indicted on lesser charges.
The ring was accused of picking up 22 Cubans last January on a 26-foot power
boat near Villa Clara, Cuba. Aleman was identified as the man who forced people
off the boat at sea.
The 15 who remained aboard were dropped on the barren Bahamian island and
left there for five days, eating snails and cactus when their food supplies ran
out. A second boat carried them to Key Largo.
Copyright 2002 Miami Herald | 
