Cubans rescued off Jupiter, Key West sent back to home country

JUPITER — A Cuban man was sent back to his home country Saturday after being found weeks ago on a boat off the Jupiter Inlet coast, officials said Sunday.

The man, whose name and age were not disclosed, was found with his stepfather at about 10:45 p.m. on Nov. 16 by authorities. He was about 10 miles off the Jupiter coast with his stepfather, 54-year-old Juan Evelio Ferrer Gonzales, according to a news release. The pair ran out of fuel before being seen by a resident, who notified Miami officials.

Neither of the adult men were injured while out at sea, officials said.

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Ferrer Gonzales was not returned to his home country as of Sunday, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Jose Hernandez. A news release said the case is being investigated for suspected human smuggling. Ferrer Gonzales allegedly left the Bahamas with his stepson Nov. 14 before getting to the Jupiter coast, the release said.

"Maritime migration is dangerous and illegal," Lt. Karolina Del Hierro Vega, a Coast Guard officer, said in a news release. "Human smuggling ventures, whether paid for or made by a friend or family member, are subject to criminal and civil penalties."

Coast Guard officials were helped with the rescue by Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Hernandez said.

Another 15 Cubans rescued off the Key West coast Nov. 19 were also sent back to their home country Saturday morning, Hernandez said. A bystander who noticed the boat notified Key West officials.

The Key West group did not suffer any injuries, Hernandez said. "It was not reported how many days the group off Key West were out on sea or where they departed from," he said. "We cannot speculate why the Cubans were out at sea."

All the Cubans who had landed in Jupiter and Key West were kept on Coast Guard vessels until being returned to Cuba, Hernandez said.

U.S. relatives who are worried about loved ones who may have been found at sea can contact their local representatives, a Coast Guard spokesperson said. Family members outside the U.S. can contact their local U.S. Embassy for information.

Sydney Czyzon is a TCPalm projects reporter working on investigations and enterprise stories. You can reach Sydney with story tips, comments or questions by emailing Sydney.Czyzon@tcpalm.com, reaching out on Twitter @SydneyCzyzon, contacting her on Facebook @ReporterSydney or calling 772-469-6045.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: United States Coast Guard sends back Cuban man who got to Jupiter Inlet from Bahamas