FLORIDA -A Bahamian boat captain who led authorities on a chase with 16 undocumented immigrants onboard has pleaded guilty to federal human smuggling charges.
Jeremy Christoph Rolle, 26, pleaded guilty this week to aiding and abetting immigrants to enter the United States.
His sentencing is set for January 11, 2022. Rolle faces up to 10 years behind bars.
Rolle was arrested on June 17, 2021. He started the smuggling venture in Bimini, Bahamas.
His vessel started to take on water at the Hillsboro Inlet; however, he refused help from an employee of a boat towing company.
A short time later, Broward County Sherriff’s Office Deputy on marine patrol came across Rolle driving the 26-foot boat.
Rolle ignored commands to stop and led law enforcement on a pursuit through the Intracoastal Waterway. During the chase, Rolle made initial landfall at a seawall on the western side of the Intracoastal Highway. Upon landfall, several people ran from the vessel onto land who were later caught by BSO deputies.
The chase ended after Rolle crashed the boat filled with several migrants still on board into a seawall in Pompano Beach.
Three previously removed immigrants were onboard Rolle’s boat. They are 54-year-old Andrew Devaunx of the Bahamas and 42-year-old Marvin Morris Carridice of Jamaica, who illegally re-entered the U.S. after being deported following aggravated felony convictions.
Additionally, 27-year-old Payam Hassanzadeh Zargar of the United Kingdom illegally reentered the United States after being previously removed.
