A Tampa resident, Mirtza Ocaña, was sentenced to five months in prison after being caught smuggling $102,000 from Havana to the United States. The 39-year-old Cuban-American faced two charges of money smuggling and received an additional three years of probation following her jail term, along with a $10,000 fine, as stated by a Central District of Florida Prosecutor to Café Fuerte.
Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle took into account Ocaña's guilty plea and her clean criminal record while delivering the sentence. Each charge could have resulted in a maximum of five years behind bars. Ocaña is expected to report to prison next Monday to begin her sentence.
Defense Claims Victory Despite Jail Time
Her attorney, Juan C. Mercado, had argued for a sentence not exceeding eight months of house arrest plus one additional month of probation. Although Ocaña will still serve time in prison, Mercado considered the sentence a "victory." "The guidelines suggested a minimum of eight months' arrest, and we achieved five months. Obviously, she didn't want to go to prison, but considering the potential outcome, this is a triumph, and we are relieved this chapter is closing for her," he stated.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Mercado maintained that his client had made "a mistake anyone could make" and denied any connections to former Cuban Economy Minister Alejandro Gil, who was removed from office and faced corruption charges.
Prosecution Highlights Repeated Offenses
The prosecution argued that Ocaña had made at least 16 out of 45 trips to Cuba since May 2023 for the purpose of smuggling money, earning between $1,000 and $2,500 per trip from her accomplices. "In each instance, Ocana [SIC] failed to declare the cash as required by law. Instead, she concealed the money, continuing this behavior until federal agents caught her. Ocana wasn't smuggling small amounts exceeding the $10,000 threshold; she was found with over $100,000 cleverly hidden in her luggage to avoid detection," detailed Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
Ocaña was apprehended on February 5th at Tampa International Airport during a routine check when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered $102,709 in undeclared cash. The money was stashed within her luggage and clothing. During questioning, she admitted to receiving payments between $1,000 and $2,500 for each trip made from Cuba to smuggle large sums of money into the United States without declaring it.
Legal Implications and Enforcement
The case, managed by Homeland Security Investigations, involved federal prosecutor Michael J. Buchanan, who emphasized the gravity of the charges, which included smuggling and conspiring with an unidentified individual to transport illicit funds to the United States. U.S. law permits the entry of any cash amount, but requires declarations for amounts exceeding $10,000, a regulation aimed at combating money laundering and criminal activities such as terrorism financing.