Agent, baseball trainer guilty in Cuban smuggling case

MIAMI A Miami jury on Wednesday convicted a Florida sports agent and a baseball trainer on charges they smuggled Cuban baseball players to the U.S. in search of big profits from professional free agent contracts.

The verdict came after jurors heard about six weeks of testimony in the trial of Bartolo Hernandez and Julio Estrada, who were indicted on conspiracy and alien smuggling charges for an operation that began in 2009 and involved a number of highprofile Major League Baseball players.

The jury deliberated only about five hours before the verdict. Prosecutors said Hernandez faces between three and 15 years in prison and Estrada — convicted of more smuggling counts — faces between five and 35 years behind bars.

They also face forfeiture of more than $15.5 million, plus real estate, four MercedesBenz vehicles and contents of bank accounts.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams set sentencing for July 11 and will allow both men to remain free on bail. Defence attorneys promised there would be appeals.

Trial evidence showed an existing Cuban smuggling operation that brought people from the communist-run island to Mexico became the platform in 2009 for the much more lucrative trade in elite ballplayers. People involved in that operation testified it was ultimately overseen by Hernandez and Estrada.

The players would be whisked from Cuba to Mexico or Haiti in a speedboat, sign papers claiming residency in their new country and eventually be cleared to sign with MLB teams. Prosecutors showed jurors how many of those documents contained false information, such as made-up jobs for players, and some travel documents were forged.

“They’re always doing things dishonestly,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael “Pat” Sullivan told jurors in a closing argument. “This was a scam.”