An American citizen was arrested on Thursday in Miami after being involved in an unusual theft case that ended with a rented boat sailing from the Florida Keys to the shores of Cuba.
Floyd Dean Devasier, 63 years old and a resident of Katy, Texas, was charged with "leasing or renting with the intent to defraud" after leaving the country aboard a 26.5-foot boat rented from the Beach Weekend Key West marina, located in Stock Island.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the vessel was rented on Tuesday under strict conditions: compliance with maritime laws, no operation during the night, and return before the closing of operations on Wednesday.
Devasier, however, did not fulfill the agreement.
Before setting sail, he bought and filled an additional 20-gallon fuel tank, which raised suspicions among the marina staff. He had also assured that he would leave the boat docked at 6800 Front Street to spend the night, but merchants and boat owners claimed they had not seen the vessel in that location. Security cameras confirmed that the boat never arrived there.
Jayme Nabors, the marina owner, explained that upon noticing unusual movements on the GPS— which showed the boat heading offshore to the south in the Atlantic Ocean— he tried to contact Devasier without success. He then alerted the Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
A fisherman sailing in the area reported seeing the vessel in waters close to the U.S. coast and took photographs that were submitted to the authorities.
Later, the Cuban Border Guard notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the boat, Devasier, and a 38-year-old adult woman were in their custody.
On Thursday, Devasier returned to Miami by plane, where he was detained by federal authorities in compliance with an order issued by Monroe County.
According to official sources, the accused has no known connections to Cuba.
This is not the first time Devasier has been involved in an incident of this kind. He has a criminal record for drug-related offenses, including a case in 2019 where another rented vessel that was not returned also appeared on Cuban soil.
"Our team acted swiftly, and we are committed to ensuring the ongoing safety and compliance of all rental operations," stated Jayme Nabors.
For his part, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay thanked everyone who contributed to bringing the case to a satisfactory conclusion.
"I would like to thank the United States Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Cuban Border Guard, and the good Samaritan who was in the water for their help and cooperation," he expressed.
The case is still under investigation by federal and local authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Case of the Rented Boat in Florida
Who is Floyd Dean Devasier and what did he do?
Floyd Dean Devasier is a 63-year-old American citizen who was arrested after renting a boat in the Florida Keys and sailing it to Cuba, violating the rental terms. He has a criminal record related to drugs and was previously involved in a similar incident.
How was the boat trip to Cuba discovered?
The marina owner, Jayme Nabors, noticed unusual activity on the boat's GPS, and unable to contact Devasier, alerted the Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. A fisherman also reported seeing the vessel near the U.S. coast and the Cuban Border Patrol later confirmed that the boat and its occupants were in their custody.
What was the authorities' reaction to the incident?
The authorities acted swiftly to resolve the case. The Monroe County Sheriff, Rick Ramsay, thanked the United States Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Cuban Border Guard, and all those who contributed to the successful conclusion of the incident. The case remains under investigation by federal and local authorities.
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