The Justice Department has announced that twelve individuals are facing charges linked to an $18 million human smuggling operation that reportedly helped hundreds of Cuban nationals enter the United States.
The office of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that this group was involved in promoting fraudulent visa services from January 2021 until June 2025, misleading Cubans into believing they could enter the U.S. legally by posing as European citizens.
The accused created various documents, chartered private flights, and laundered money using the Zelle payment app, turning their operations into multi-million dollar schemes in an effort to evade U.S. asylum laws.
Bondi emphasized that those profiting from the suffering of vulnerable individuals, including many minors without guardians, will face strict justice.
Authorities revealed that the defendants operated a phony business named “Asesoria y Servicios Migratorios LLC,” which was supposed to provide immigration advice and support.
While the company claimed to assist immigrants with permits and asylum applications, the truth is that the defendants submitted hundreds of false ESTA applications to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The group charged victims between $1,500 and $40,000 each, moving around $7 million through Zelle over their four years of operation, according to the DOJ.
Furthermore, records indicated that this fake company spent upwards of $2.5 million on flights for unaware clients.
Assistant Advisor Matthew R. Galeotti commented that the indictment reveals a significant criminal organization involved in large-scale human smuggling.
He pointed out that the defendants disguised themselves as legitimate immigration services, utilizing social media promotions and misleading legal declarations to attract clients and perpetuate their fraud.
The individuals charged include Lazaro Alain Cabrera Rodriguez, Uniel Lima Santos, Leannie Yaisles Vega Perez, Mariannee Lucia Lopez Torres, Flandi Aragon Diaz, Eric Ventura Castro, Miguel Aregendoro Martin Vastel, Flugindoro Martin Vastel, Emmanuel Martinez Gonzalez, Luis Emmanuel Escarona Marrero, Leila Livatado Toreto Santos, and Gislievi Peralta Consoegra.
Lima Santos and Aragon Diaz face charges specifically for alien smuggling for financial gain.
All defendants, aside from Consuegra, were charged with conspiracy to engage in alien smuggling for profit.
Consuegra, along with Lima-Santos, Vega-Perez, Aragon-Diaz, and Santos, has been charged with conspiracy to commit asylum fraud.
Additionally, Cabrera-Rodriguez, Lima-Santos, Vega-Perez, Aragon-Diaz, Ventura-Castro, Martinez Vasconcelos, Escalon-Marrero, and Santos were further implicated in a conspiracy to launder financial instruments.
This indictment is part of the DOJ’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative focused on addressing illegal immigration and cross-border crime.
