A Cuban man in his 40s has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison in Uruguay for a series of crimes, including aggravated sexual assault, domestic violence, personal injury, and ammunition trafficking. Following the completion of his sentence, the man—whose identity remains undisclosed—will be deported to Cuba in accordance with the South American country's Migration Law.
Crimes Committed and Method of Operation
The conviction arose from an investigation led by prosecutor Sandra Fleitas from Ciudad de la Costa, Canelones. In statements to the Telenoche channel, Fleitas described the Cuban, noted to be a boxer, as using his physical strength to instill fear in his victims. According to the investigations, the accused utilized social media as his primary tool to connect with his victims, women of a similar age residing in Las Piedras, Pando, and Ciudad de la Costa.
The man portrayed himself as a respectable worker involved in mechanics and the buying and selling of automobiles. However, after gaining the trust of his victims and forming romantic relationships, he committed abuses and acts of violence, as reported by the Uruguayan local press. The criminal pattern of the convicted individual was uncovered following a report from one of his victims in January 2023. This report encouraged two additional women to share similar experiences, enabling Uruguayan authorities to build a robust case.
The sentence was handed down through an abbreviated trial, a procedure requiring the accused to admit guilt in exchange for a more expedited process. This mechanism allowed for a definitive and effective sentence for the crimes of aggravated sexual assault, domestic violence, personal injury, and ammunition trafficking.
Deportation and Legal Proceedings
The ammunition trafficking, a severe offense under Uruguayan law, was crucial for the application of Article 47 of Law 18.250 on Migration, which governs the expulsion of foreigners who commit intentional crimes and receive penitentiary sentences. This article also applies in cases of recidivism, as it did in this situation.
The deportation order for the convicted individual will be carried out upon the completion of his sentence, under the supervision of an execution judge. According to Law 18.250, foreigners who commit crimes related to arms trafficking, human trafficking, or narcotics, among others, are deemed unfit to remain in the country. Although this regulation is typically applied to drug trafficking cases, the ammunition trafficking allowed for the extension of this measure to the Cuban convict. As of the close of this report, no further details about the case are available.