MIAMI, Fla. — Rafael Rodríguez Hernández, a 35-year-old Cuban citizen, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to human trafficking in a Miami federal court.
Rodríguez was arrested on September 29, 2024, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted his vessel carrying 27 unauthorized migrants from the Bahamas to U.S. territory, according to a statement by the Department of Justice.
During the operation, CBP determined that Rodríguez was the only person on board with legal status. Among the passengers were five Ecuadorian nationals who had previously been deported from the U.S.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) transported Rodríguez and the five Ecuadorians to the mainland for prosecution, while the remaining 22 individuals were returned to the Bahamas.
Rodríguez admitted guilt in January 2025 as part of a plea agreement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami, in coordination with CBP and the 7th District of the USCG, and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl.
The sentencing is part of heightened federal efforts to combat human trafficking at U.S. borders, especially following the enforcement of stricter immigration policies implemented earlier this year.
Rodríguez is one of several Cuban nationals recently convicted in human trafficking cases:
Yaquelín Domínguez Nieves, 26, was sentenced to 7.5 years for her role in a trafficking operation that led to the deaths of 16 Cuban migrants in November 2022.
Yordany Capote León, 31, received a three-year prison sentence in March 2025 for smuggling operations in Caribbean waters.
Yuniel Cabrera Piloto, 44, awaits sentencing on May 8, facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In West Texas, Humberto Yosvany Arriola Rivero, 30, was convicted of trafficking conspiracy and sexual assault of a migrant woman, and will serve nearly 10 years in federal prison.
U.S. authorities continue to monitor and crack down on trafficking networks, especially maritime routes originating in the Caribbean.
