A federal jury convicted Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, a Cuban national residing in Florida, for his involvement in a $20 million human smuggling operation that facilitated the illegal entry of hundreds of Cubans into the United States. The verdict was announced on Thursday by the Department of Justice. Cabrera-Rodriguez, 28, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Cabrera-Rodriguez operated a travel agency that marketed fraudulent immigration services between January 2021 and June 2025. The agency charged customers fees ranging from $1,500 to $40,000, falsely assuring Cuban nationals they could enter the U.S. legally by claiming European citizenship.

The scheme involved promoting fake visa services, effectively deceiving clients into believing that their immigration was authorized when, in fact, it was not. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated that Cabrera-Rodriguez exploited his travel business to facilitate the unlawful smuggling of Cuban immigrants into the United States. In addition to human smuggling, the defendant was also found guilty of money laundering related to the operation.

Federal authorities shut down the smuggling network last year as part of a broader effort to combat illegal immigration and associated criminal activity. The case underscores ongoing challenges in addressing complex human smuggling organizations that exploit vulnerable populations through deception and fraudulent immigration schemes. Sentencing for Cabrera-Rodriguez is pending.