Human smuggling case nets 3rd guilty plea
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20050911-9999-1n11...
By Matt Krasnowski
September 11, 2005
LOS ANGELES ? Admitting he smuggled five groups of illegal immigrants from Mexico to the United States by boat, a San Pedro man pleaded guilty Friday
to a federal charge alleging he took part in a human trafficking operation cracked last year when authorities stopped a yacht stuffed with 50 Mexican
citizens in Los Angeles Harbor.
Craig Lightner, 40, is the third person to plead guilty in the smuggling scheme. According to his plea agreement, Lightner helped organize the
smuggling of immigrants on boats that left Ensenada and then transported the immigrants after they arrived at the Port of Los Angeles. He admitted to
shipping at least 70 immigrants.
He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary Feess to one count of encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the United States. Lightner also
pleaded guilty to a separate charge of smuggling angelfish from Mexico.
In addition, court papers show that Lightner was arrested last year in an investigation alleging that he was purchasing large quantities of marijuana
and cocaine in Mexico and shipping them across the United States. No federal criminal charges have been filed in the investigation.
Lightner, who is in custody, could face nearly three years in prison on the immigrant-smuggling charge. Court papers state he agreed to cooperate with
prosecutors and under terms of his deal he could be eligible for a hefty cut in his prison sentence if prosecutors deem his assistance "substantial."
Feess, who doesn't have to follow the plea agreement recommendations, set a sentencing hearing for Dec. 5.
The immigrant-smuggling scheme unraveled Aug. 30, 2004, when U.S. Coast Guard and immigration officials, acting on a tip, intercepted a rented 44-foot
yacht dubbed "C'est La Vie" as it entered Los Angeles Harbor.
Officials arrested Gregory Ray LaBono, 49, an accomplished sailor from Lomita, and Vernon Eugene Siegel Jr., 22, of Florida, and found 50 Mexican
immigrants onboard. Officials called it one of the largest maritime immigrant-smuggling arrests in years.
LaBono and Siegel later pleaded guilty. Court papers filed after their arrests state that LaBono reportedly told authorities this was the first time
he had hauled human cargo.
Lightner's plea agreement states that on Aug. 18, 2004, the three men used a 47-foot chartered yacht called "Soul Mates" to smuggle about 20
immigrants from Ensenada to the Port of Los Angeles.
The agreement also states that during the scheme Lightner "and others were involved in the smuggling of at least five groups of undocumented aliens
from Mexico into the United States." The Aug. 18 and Aug. 30, 2004, shipments were the only ones spelled out in Lightner's agreement.
The agreement states Lightner and others would drive a van into Mexico through the San Ysidro border crossing and gather prospective immigrants in
Tijuana. Later he would drive the immigrants to the docks in Ensenada, where they would board a boat piloted by LaBono.
LaBono would sail to the Port of Los Angeles, and Lightner would instruct him where to dock, according to the agreement. Then Lightner and others
would unload the immigrants and transport them from the port.
Some of the immigrants on the C'est La Vie, which was bound for the Cabrillo Marina, said they each paid $3,000 for the voyage north, court papers
state.
Kevin Jeffrey, the deputy special agent in charge for the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Los Angeles area, said the case
highlights how difficult it can be to track smugglers who use pleasure watercraft to bring immigrants north.
In court, Lightner also pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling 160 Clarion angelfish, worth an estimated $360,000, from Mexico. He admitted
arranging for the collection of the bright orange fish from Mexican waters without government permits and then shipping the fish to Los Angeles
International Airport while trying to hide the content from authorities.
In addition, federal officials have filed a civil lawsuit seeking the forfeiture of Lightner's 38-foot sportfishing boat, called "Happy Hooker,"
roughly $5,000 in cash, a Honda minivan, a recreational vehicle, a Nissan sport utility vehicle and two Rolex watches.
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