Base de données Jurisprudence

Participation à un groupe organisé

Infractions

• Entente en vue de commettre une infraction grave

Degré d’implication

• Acte manifeste commis en vertu d’une entente

Mots-clefs

• Entente
• criminal association

Trafic illicite de migrants

Délit(s) / Infranction(s)

• Fait de permettre l’entrée illégale
• Fait de permettre le séjour illégal

Case No. 12-20792 - Superseding indictment - US District Court Southern District of Florida

États-Unis d'Amérique

Résumé des faits

This Superseding Indictment refers to accusations upon two defendants according to which, as early as 1 October 2008 and at least until 1 September 2010 (in dates not yet précised at the time of the indictment) the defendants would have, in different facets, regularly procured and or enabled the illegal entry and or stay of Brazilian migrants into the United States. The offence would have been committed through the high seas, though the defendants were arrested in Miami-Dade County, Southern District of Florida (USA).
 
Legal findings:
The Grand Jury charged the defendants with:
  • One count of conspiring and agreeing (including with people unknown to the Grand Jury) to commit an offence against the USA. Specifically, to encourage and induce and alien to come to, enter, and reside in the USA, knowing it would be in violation of domestic laws.
  • Six counts of knowingly encouraging and inducing an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the USA, aware it would be in violation of the law.
  • Six counts of bringing and attempting to bring an alien to the USA, with the purpose of obtaining a financial or other material benefit (i.e., “commercial advantage and private financial gain”), knowing that no prior authorisation to come to, enter and reside had been issued to that effect.
 
The Grand Jury further determined that, where the defendants to be convicted, they were to forfeit to the United States all their titles, rights and interests on:
  • Any conveyance (including vehicle, vessels or aircraft) used in the perpetration of the offences;
  • Any property, real or personal, that constitutes, or is derived from, or is traceable to any proceeds, obtained directly or indirectly, from the offences at stake;
  • Any property, real or personal, that was used to facilitate, or intended to be used to facilitate the commission of the crime.

Commentaire / Faits marquants

This Superseding Indictment reflects the detailed and comprehensive legislation of the USA regarding illegal entry, transit and stay in the United States. The applicable legislation covers and mirrors the smuggling of migrants understood both as an offence against the interests of the State (e.g., its borders, economy and migration policies) and a crime against the person. Likely because it is also considered a crime against the United States, procuring and or enabling illegal entry, transit and or stay of aliens is punishable (as a matter of law and in practice) even without the purpose of obtaining a financial or other material benefit (which operates as an aggravating circumstance) and independent of the involvement of an organised criminal group.
 
This Indictment also mirrors a proactive and effective approach, at an early stage of proceedings, regarding the seizure and confiscation of assets involved in, deriving from, or somehow related to the smuggling of migrants. In this manner, it contributes to consolidating and enhancing the practical effect of Article 12 of United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC).
 
NOTE: As per USA national law, the purpose of obtaining a financial or other material benefit is not a constitutive element of the crime of smuggling of migrants but rather an aggravating circumstance (see SHERLOC Database of Legislation – USA).
Date de la peine:
2012-11-01

Questions transversales

Responsabilité

Responsabilité pour

• Infraction consommée

Responsabilité fondée sur

• Intention criminelle

Responsabilité impliquant

• Auteur principal (d’une infraction)

Commission d’une infraction

Détails

• Produite dans un (ou plusieurs) des frontières internationales (transnational)

Pays concernés

Brésil

États-Unis d'Amérique

enquête

Organismes concernés

• Criminal Police
• Public Prosecutor Office

Confiscation et saisie

Observations

The Grand Jury determined that, if convicted, the defendants were to forfeit to the USA, any right, title or interest in: (i) Any conveyance (including vehicle, vessels or aircraft) used in the perpetration of the offences; (ii) Any property, real or personal, that constitutes, or is derived from, or is traceable to any proceeds, obtained directly or indirectly, from the offences at stake; (iii) Any property, real or personal, that was used to facilitate, or intended to be used to facilitate the commission of the crime.

Legal basis: Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(6), in line with procedures of Title 21, United States Code, Section 853. 

 

Considérations liées à l'égalité des genres

Détails

• Questions relatives à la problématique femmes-hommes
• Auteur principal féminin

Informations sur la procédure

Système juridique:
Droit commun
Décision judiciaire la plus récente:
Cour suprême
Type d'Action Juridique:
Criminel / pénal
 

Migrants

Migrant:
Nationalité:
Brésilien

At least, 6 smuggled migrants - two women and four men

Défendeurs / Répondants de la première instance

Prévenu:
J.R.T.-M.
Sexe:
Femme

Charge 1 – Maximum penalty: 10 years’ imprisonment;

Charge 2 – Maximum penalty: 5 years’ imprisonment;

Charge 3 – Maximum penalty: 15 years’ imprisonment.
Prévenu:
F.R.-F.
Sexe:
Homme
F.R.-F- was indicted for the same charges and in the same terms as J.R.T.-M.

Accusations / Demandes d’indemnité / Décisions

Prévenu:
J.R.T.-M.
Charge:
Conspiracy to commit alien smuggling
Statut:
United States CodeTitle 8, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I)
Charge:
Encouraging and inducing aliens
Statut:
United States CodeTitle 8, Section 1324 (a)(1)(A)(iv)
Charge:
Illegally bringing aliens to the United States for profit
Statut:
United States CodeTitle 8, Section 1324 (a)(2)(B)(ii)
Prévenu:
F.R.-F.

Tribunal

United States District Court, Southern District of Florida

Sources / citations

Case No. 12-20792 - Superseding indictment

United States District Court Southern District of Florida 
1 November 2012