- Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana was arrested by ICE on Aug. 19 after being charged federally with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, following the tragic capsizing of his boat near the Statue of Liberty that killed a woman and her infant.
- Hernandez-Umana was piloting a boat that was overloaded with 14 people, exceeding its capacity of 10, when it capsized, leading to the deaths of 27-year-old Sarah Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.
- Hernandez-Umana remains in ICE custody pending trial, and authorities have stated he will be deported after serving any prison time if convicted.
- Hernandez-Umana entered the United States illegally through Texas in 2007, falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
- Hernandez-Umana did not have the necessary registration or certification to operate the boat with paying customers, and there were no child- or infant-sized life vests on board at the time of the incident.
Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, 46, was arrested by ICE following the tragic capsizing of his boat near the Statue of Liberty on August 8, which resulted in the deaths of 27-year-old Sarah Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.1234567891011
The boat, a Yamaha AR210, was overloaded with 14 people on board, exceeding its capacity of 10. Investigators revealed that Hernandez piloted the vessel into a swell caused by a larger boat, leading to the capsizing. “The swell swamped the bow of the Vessel and immediately capsized the Vessel,” the complaint stated.
Hernandez faces federal charges of two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. Additionally, he is charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment by the New York Police Department. “Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure that he is swiftly removed from our country,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Hernandez, a national of El Salvador, entered the U.S. illegally in 2007 and had no registration for the boat or certification to operate it commercially. There were also no child-sized life vests on board, raising further concerns about safety practices during the tour, which cost the group $1,800.
After the criminal proceedings, Hernandez will serve any prison time if convicted and then face deportation.
“The operator, Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, faces federal charges of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, each carrying up to 10 years in prison. He also faces 13 counts of reckless endangerment from NYPD, and DHS says he entered the U.S. illegally in 2007.”
ABC7 New York
