Hialeah man convicted in $20 million Cuban smuggling ESTA
A federal jury convicted Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez of leading an alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy that moved over $20 million and used
A federal jury in the Middle District of Florida convicted Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, a 28-year-old Hialeah resident, on three conspiracy counts. The charges are for alien smuggling for financial gain, international money laundering, and money laundering concealment.
Operation and scale
More than $20 million passed through at least 57 bank accounts controlled by Cabrera-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators. The organization, which operated under the guise of a travel agency, facilitated the unlawful entry of thousands of Cuban nationals into the United States. Between 2021 and 2024, the enterprise moved millions through these controlled accounts. The group submitted over 600 fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver applications. Migrants were charged between $1,500 and $40,000 for transport.
Methods and deception
The organization filed hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection using fake addresses. They advertised services that included helping Cubans make false claims of European citizenship to enter the U.S. On a tourist visa waiver, despite Cuban nationals being ineligible for the ESTA program. Defendants falsely represented that applicants had not been in Cuba since 2011, despite knowing the applicants were in Cuba when the applications were submitted. The group used social media to solicit clients and occasionally chartered private planes to transport migrants.
Financial transactions
Between 2021 and 2024, Cabrera-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators transmitted more than $600,000 from the United States abroad to purchase flights for aliens to unlawfully enter the country. This included purchasing international and domestic flights to transport aliens into and throughout the United States.
Co-defendants and prosecution
Twelve individuals were charged in a superseding indictment. Eight co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said it "announced the conviction." The case was prosecuted under Joint Task Force Alpha as part of Operation Take Back America.
| Name | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Liannys Yaiselys Vega-Perez | 31 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Miguel Alejandro Martinez Vasconcelos | 31 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Layra Libertad Treto Santos | 30 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Luis Emmanuel Escalona-Marrero | 32 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Emanuel Martinez Gonzalez | 29 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Walbis Pozo-Dutel | 31 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra | 41 | Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing |
| Erik Ventura-Castro | 24 | Pleaded guilty May 7, sentenced July 29 to 30 months |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, and U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector led the U.S. Investigative efforts. Authorities in the Cayman Islands provided valuable assistance. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa made statements on the case. Cabrera-Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
