{"id":26831,"date":"2015-08-12T20:25:43","date_gmt":"2015-08-12T20:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=26831"},"modified":"2015-08-12T20:25:43","modified_gmt":"2015-08-12T20:25:43","slug":"french-national-pleads-guilty-to-38-counts-of-alien-smuggling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=26831","title":{"rendered":"French National Pleads Guilty to 38 Counts Of Alien Smuggling"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Alain Rene Leichtnam, 71, a French national, pleaded guilty today in\u00a0District Court here to 38 counts of an indictment charging him with encouraging and inducing\u00a0aliens to enter the United States in violation of law<\/a><\/span>, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe\u00a0announced this afternoon.<\/p>\n

According to the plea agreement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and\u00a0Marine (OAM) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) intercepted a sailing vessel Mazurka heading\u00a0towards Coral Bay on the East End of St. John, Virgin Islands in the early morning hours of April 29,\u00a02015. CBP agents observed Leichtnam operating the vessel and identified 38 Cuban nationals and one\u00a0national of St. Lucia onboard. Leichtnam admitted that he transported the Cuban nationals to the United\u00a0States for financial gain knowing that the conduct was unlawful.<\/p>\n

Leichtnam was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending
\nsentencing, which is scheduled for December 4, 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose responsible for encouraging and inducing immigrants to enter the United States illegally
\nare placing personal profit ahead of public safety and the lives of the immigrants,\u201d Sharpe\u00a0said. \u201cThis conviction should warn those involved in this dangerous and illegal activity that it comes\u00a0with a high price.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s\u00a0(ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, said the agency will continue its diligent work to quell the smuggling of aliens onto U.S. soil.<\/p>\n

\u201cICE\u00a0continues to be committed to putting an end to the practice of profiting from the illegal transportation of\u00a0aliens across our borders and throughout our country. We will continue to vigorously enforce the federal\u00a0laws which punish the many manifestations of the complex problem of smuggling, trafficking and\u00a0harboring illegal aliens,” Melendez said.<\/p>\n

“Tragically, many have lost their lives while attempting this illegal and\u00a0treacherous trip. Human smugglers have a callous disregard for the value of human life and are only\u00a0concerned about making a profit. ICE will continue to aggressively work with our U.S. Department of\u00a0Homeland Security (DHS) partners to identify and arrest those involved in this illicit and dangerous\u00a0activity,” he concluded.<\/p>\n

The case was investigated by ICE with the assistance of CBP and the USCG. It is being\u00a0prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feature Image: U.S. Coast Guard vessel near Fort Christianvaern, St. Croix<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Alain Rene Leichtnam, 71, a French national, pleaded guilty today in\u00a0District Court here to 38 counts of an indictment charging him with encouraging and inducing\u00a0aliens to enter the United States in violation of law, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe\u00a0announced this afternoon. According to the plea agreement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":21943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[228,191,147],"tags":[2926,1908,121],"yoast_head":"\nFrench National Pleads Guilty to 38 Counts Of Alien Smuggling - V.I. Consortium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"ST. 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