A Cape Coral man was arrested alongside four others in connection to a human smuggling investigation.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office , they were arrested on state human smuggling charges Monday after being detained in Florida City by federal law enforcement authorities.
Twenty foreign nationals, including 10 male Ecuadorian nationals, three female Ecuadorian nationals, five female Chinese nationals and two male Chinese nationals landed by boat off County Road 905 in Key Largo on Sunday.
The following people are facing 20 felony counts of human smuggling:
- Joel Gil Egued, 48, of Cape Coral
- Humberto Tamayo, 48, of Miami
- Omar Livan Ripoll Perez, 28, of Miami
- Dianelys Perez Escourido, 44, of Miami
- Victor Victor Febales Gualpa, 38, of West Palm Beach
MCSO said after they were notified the U.S. Attorney's Office wasn't pressing charges, they consulted with the State Attorney's Office and proceeded with the charges.