Two Guyanese who had been previously deported from the US were among 15 persons who were found on a boat carrying migrants that was intercepted by a US Customs and Border Protection vessel off Lake Worth Inlet in Palm Beach County on May 9.
According to a complaint seen by this newspaper, at about 10 nautical miles off the inlet, agents found 15 people on the 26-foot Cuddy Cabin twin-engine vessel. The passengers hailed from eight countries – the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Tajikistan, The Bahamas and Turkey.
Among that number was Guyanese Joel Dataram and Jamaican Shane Anthony Clacken, both of whom were arrested on charges of attempting to re-enter after being previously deported, as well as to human smuggling. They both were previously convicted on felony drug charges before they were deported, the complaint stated.
The complaint, which was filed by Customs Officer Cynthia Samples, also stated that Dataram was born on October 31, 1986, and is a citizen of Guyana. He was previously deported from the US on or about October 29, 2014, following his aggravated felony conviction for a narcotic-related offence. He did not have permission to re-enter the US legally.
Another Guyanese, Kumal Persaud Mohabir, was born in Guyana on February 24, 1957, and was deported to Guyana on April 20, 2016, following his conviction of reckless endangerment and did not have permission to re-enter legally.
The report also informed that two of the other suspected smugglers, Macartnil Thyron McGregor, and Cordero Bethel, are from The Bahamas. Five others on the boat were also arrested on charges of attempting to re-enter the US. after having been previously deported. They too, were all previously convicted of felonies – ranging from drug charges to assault.
McGregor was not onboard the vessel but was deemed to be the organiser of the smuggling venture, and was arrested on May 15, as he attempted to leave the US for The Bahamas. McGregor, who is charged with alien smuggling for profit, was born on March 10, 1987 and is a citizen of The Bahamas. He too, did not have permission to enter the US legally.
Another one of the persons found on board, Cordero Bethel, who is charged with smuggling aliens for profit and is a citizen of The Bahamas, told the authorities he was promised US$10,000 to guide the boat to the US. He said they departed West End, The Bahamas, on May 8, but during the trip the boat developed engine problems. He attempted to fix the problem but the boat was left with one operational engine and he advised the passengers who opted to continue the journey rather than turn back. He said he overheard the passengers saying they will arrive in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Bethel identified Clacken as being behind the engine and Dataram as the one with the GPS. But he later admitted that he was the one at the helm of the boat when they left but later placed Clacken to drive while he attempted to fix the engines. Clacken later told authorities that he paid US$1,500 to get on the boat and was expected to pay a similar amount when he arrived in the US.
During his interview with the authorities Dataram claimed that he paid US$15,000 before departing in the boat and was expected to pay another US$15,000 when he arrived in the US. He paid for himself and spouse. While on the boat he said they had life jackets, food and water. While he was in the cabin initially, he said after the boat started experiencing problems he came out and helped to hold the GPS so it would not get wet.
Mohabir, according to the complaint, had attempted to enter the US through Mexico about five years ago but arrested and deported to Guyana. He told authorities that he had arrived in The Bahamas about four days before they left and that he had paid US$2,000 before they left and was expected to pay another US$6,000 once they arrived in the US. He identified Dataram as the person he had shared an apartment with him in The Bahamas and who put him in contact with the smugglers.
Dataram made his appearance in court on May 16 before Magistrate judge William Matthewman and was advised of his rights, charges brought against him, and possible maximum penalties. During questioning, the magistrate judge found him to be indigent, and appointed Omar Guerra Johansson as his counsel. He is expected to be arraigned on May 31 in West Palm Beach Division before a Duty Magistrate.
Mohabir appeared before the same judge and was also deemed unable to afford a lawyer and as such the court appointed Ruben M. Garcia as his counsel. He also expected to be arraigned on May 31, in West Palm Beach along with the other accused.
