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Agent 'smuggled baseball players' | Agent 'smuggled baseball players' |
(4 days later) | |
Prosecutors in Miami have charged a sports agent with smuggling Cuban baseball players into the US. | Prosecutors in Miami have charged a sports agent with smuggling Cuban baseball players into the US. |
Gustavo "Gus" Dominguez and four alleged accomplices are accused of using a speedboat to bring 19 men to Florida from Cuba in 2004. | Gustavo "Gus" Dominguez and four alleged accomplices are accused of using a speedboat to bring 19 men to Florida from Cuba in 2004. |
Prosecutors say the players were then sent on to California in the hope they would be signed by Major League teams. | Prosecutors say the players were then sent on to California in the hope they would be signed by Major League teams. |
Mr Dominguez pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. If convicted, the men face up to 10 years in prison. | Mr Dominguez pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. If convicted, the men face up to 10 years in prison. |
People-smuggling operations from Cuba to the US are common, and taking Cuban migrants on the 145km (90 miles) trip across the Florida Straits can be highly lucrative. | People-smuggling operations from Cuba to the US are common, and taking Cuban migrants on the 145km (90 miles) trip across the Florida Straits can be highly lucrative. |
But it is the first time a sports agent has been charged with smuggling, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. | But it is the first time a sports agent has been charged with smuggling, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. |
Baseball is Cuba's national sport and the country is believed to have many gifted young players seeking to play in the US. | Baseball is Cuba's national sport and the country is believed to have many gifted young players seeking to play in the US. |