b'U.S. COAST GUARDU.S. COAST GUARD Owner Of Illegal Passenger VesselSentenced to PrisonT heownerofthevesselator licensing and safety regulationsNot only do illegal charter operations StimulusMoney,Richardare in place to ensure customers thatpotentiallyconstituteaviolationof Cruz,wassentencedto18are trying to enjoy a day on the waterfederallaw,butownersandopera-months in prison on Jan. 30, 2025,candososafely.Disregardingthesetors of vessels may also be subject to after pleading guilty for his role inregulationscanhavetragicconse- civil penalties of $60,000 or more for the July 2022 capsizing of the vesselquences as we saw in this case. I thankillegalpassenger-for-hireoperations. while underway on the Hudson Riv- the personnel from Coast Guard Sec- ChartersthatviolateaCoastGuard er that resulted in the death of twotor New York, Coast Guard Investiga- Captain of the Port Order may also be passengers, a seven-year-old boy andtive Service, and the U.S. Attorneyssubject to civil penalties of $117,608 48-year-old woman. Office for their exceptional teamworkper violation.and persistence on this case to bring CruzwasarrestedinMarch2024those responsible to justice. Some potential civil penalties for ille-along with the operator of the vessel,gally operating a passenger vessel are:JaimePinillaGomez,andchargedAndrechik further posted on Linke-withonecountofmisconductanddIn:Illegalpassengervesselopera-Up to $9,624 for failure of operatorsneglectofashipofficerresultingtions are dangerous and can have trag- to be enrolled in a chemical- testing indeath,whichcarriesamaximumic consequences. The capsizing of theprogram.sentence of ten years in prison. Thisvessel Stimulus Money in the Hudson statute (section 1115 of title 18 UnitedRiver in July 2022 killed a seven-year- Up to $5,996 for failure to provide States Code) is frequently referred toold boy and a 48-year-old woman anda Coast Guard Certificate of Inspec-as the Seamans Manslaughter Act. put others lives at risk. tion for vessels carrying more than six passengers for hire.U.S.CoastGuardSectorNewYorkThe Coast Guard urges the public to andtheCoastGuardInvestigativebe on the lookout for illegal chartersUp to $20,468 for failure to produce Service investigated the incident intoto ensure their safety and the safetyavalidCertificateofDocumenta-suspected illegal passenger operations,ofothers.Ifavesseliscarryingsixtion for vessels over five gross tons.finding the vessel did not possess theor more passengers, with at least one required Certificate of Inspection andpaying for the charter, it must have aUp to $14,988 for failure to have been the operator did not have the requiredvalid Coast Guard Certificate of In- issued a valid Stability Letter prior to CoastGuard-issuedmerchantmari- spection.Passengerscanandshouldplacing a vessel in service with more ner credential to operate a passengerask the captain of the vessel to verifythan six passengers for hire.vessel. The Coast Guard referred thetheir license and the inspection status case to the U.S. Attorneys Office forof the boat. Marinerssuspectingapassenger theSouthernDistrictofNewYorkvesselisoperatingillegallyshould for further consideration in potentialAll passengers should check the boatsimmediately contact their local Coast criminal prosecution. maximum capacity plate, if equipped.GuardunitorcontacttheCoast Thereshouldnotbemorepassen- Guards Investigative Service TIPS at Mydeepestcondolencesgoouttogers or weight on the boat than it isthis website. the family and friends of those affect- equipped for. Overloading can cause ed by this preventable accident, saidthe boat to ride lower in the water, re-Capt. Jon Andrechik, the captain ofduce the vessels stability, and greatly the Port of New York. Vessel oper- increase the risk of capsizing.FOGHORN 48'