NASSAU-A man who smuggled 14 Chinese immigrants from Nassau to Florida on a luxury yacht is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty.
Italian Rocco Oppedisano, 51, pleaded in federal court to bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain on Monday.
The Coast Guard stopped Oppedisano’s 63-foot yacht two miles east of the Haulover Inlet on December 2, 2019.
He claimed to be the only person onboard.
Oppedisano claimed he was returning to Golden Beach, Florida.
However, his GPS showed a clear track from Florida to Nassau, Bahamas and back.
Oppsedisano refused Coast Guard officers access to the staterooms.
Customs and Border Patrol officers arrived and found the immigrants when they accessed the staterooms.
Oppedisano said he had been hired for the smuggling venture.
Authorities found over $200,000 in Bahamian and US currency behind the wall of Oppedisano’s master bedroom.