6 nabbed allegedly smuggling 20 Cubans

MIAMI, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Six Florida men were charged with conspiracy to smuggle 20 Cubans into the U.S., in a crackdown officials attribute to heightened U.S. government efforts.

Miguel Bernal, the alleged leader of the ring, was charged along with Frankley Ortiz, 37, and Lazaro Garcia, 52, both of Hialeah, and Maikel Perez Tarajano, 33, Jose Aguila Gomez, 46, and Osmel Echevarria Hernandez, 29, all of Miami, The Miami Herald reported Thursday.

On Dec. 3, Hernandez pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the others have arraignments scheduled for Friday and Monday. Bail for each was set at $100,000.

Nicole Navas, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami, said the Department of Homeland Security has stepped up its efforts to reduce human smuggling.

The six face maximum prison sentences of 10 years, if convicted.

Two hundred and seventeen people were charged in smuggling cases in 2008, exceeding the total number charged in 2006 and 2007. So far in 2009, 80 persons have been charged in similar cases, the U.S. attorney's office said.

"DHS now is 8 years old and we've now really started to mature as an agency. We work together so much better now that we are able to make these kinds of cases that before we weren't able to make.'' Anthony Mangione, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami, said.