Cuban National Pleads Guilty to International Alien Smuggling, Asylum Fraud, and Money Laundering Conspiracy
Yuniel Lima-Santos, a 31-year-old Cuban national residing in Tampa, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges related to an international alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents, Lima-Santos conspired with others to operate an organization that encouraged thousands of Cuban nationals and other aliens to illegally enter the United States. The scheme involved using fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications and visa waivers. The defendants advertised their services on social media, assisting Cubans in making false claims of European citizenship to enter the U.S. via European tourist visa waivers or ESTA, and filing hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using fake addresses and fabricated documents. Lima-Santos facilitated the movement of aliens from their countries of origin into and throughout the United States, including purchasing international and domestic flights. He admitted to s...