The Cuban captain Yusiel López Insúa was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 months in prison for the maritime accident that caused the death of three girls during a summer camp in Miami in July 2025.
Federal Judge Jacqueline Becerra imposed a prison sentence longer than that recommended by the Prosecutor's Office and the defense, who had requested a year and a day in prison, followed by six months of house arrest.
According to CBS News Miami, López Insúa had acknowledged his responsibility for involuntary manslaughter at sea, a federal offense punishable by up to ten years in prison.
During the hearing, the judge compared the captain's conduct to driving on the I-95 highway with his eyes blindfolded, referencing the serious safety breaches that contributed to the accident.
According to WSVN, López Insúa will begin serving his sentence in December, when he must voluntarily surrender to the authorities.
The families of the three girls quietly left the courtroom after hearing the verdict, as reported by the local television channel.
After hearing the verdict, lawyer Walter Reynoso stated that his client remains deeply affected by the tragedy and will carry that pain for the rest of his life. He added that López Insúa and his family pray daily for the victims' relatives to find peace and strength in the face of their loss, according to statements reported by NBC Miami.
A tragedy that could have been avoided
The accident occurred on July 28, 2025, in Biscayne Bay, when the tugboat operated by López Insúa was pushing a barge loaded with construction materials.
The commercial vessel collided with a small sailboat carrying five girls and an instructor from a summer camp.
Three minors were trapped under the barge and drowned. The victims were Mila Yankelevich, aged seven; Arielle Buchman, aged ten; and Erin Ko Han, aged thirteen. The other two girls and the instructor were able to survive.
The federal investigation determined that the captain's visibility was obstructed by a crane and other structures of the barge, and that he had not assigned any crew member to monitor the presence of other vessels.
In addition, a forensic analysis of his cell phone detected internet activity during browsing, even close to the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the captain had been browsing online shopping platforms.
The U.S. Department of Justice concluded that López Insúa violated basic maritime safety regulations and acknowledged that these oversights contributed to the collision.
The captain pleaded guilty in July 2026, after initially denying the charges. His lawyer then explained that he accepted his responsibility to spare the victims' families from having to relive the tragedy during a trial.
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