Suspects accused of smuggling Chinese migrants in Coral Gables appear in federal court

Three of the four defendants named in a grand jury indictment appeared in federal court Wednesday, pleading not guilty to charges related to Chinese migrants found in vans in Coral Gables last month.

In that incident, police confirmed receiving 911 calls around 8 a.m. about two vans possibly transporting migrants and later found a total of 26 Chinese migrants inside on Jan. 28.

One van was stopped outside Gables Estates at the corner of Southwest 88th Street and Old Cutler Road, while the other was stopped along Kendall Drive, according to investigators.

Jail records show that Joel Eusebio is facing federal charges of transporting illegal aliens and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

His attorney, federal criminal defense lawyer Paul Petruzzi, maintained his client’s innocence, emphasizing that he was simply doing his job.

“He is one of several defendants who was driving a van, and that is his job, and his job is to drive a van,” Petruzzi said. “So, people really outta be very concerned about who they work for, the jobs that they take, ask some questions, and don’t get caught up in somebody else’s crime.”

When asked whether Eusebio knew the migrants were in the country illegally, Petruzzi said:

“Well, my client was driving a van. Obviously, he knew who was in it. But, there are plenty of Chinese people in the United States and plenty of them in Florida. The government has to prove that my client knew that they were either in the United States illegally or they had entered the United States illegally and hadn’t legalized themselves, and without proving that, the government can’t prove an offense.”

Attorneys for the defendants requested a jury trial. Eusebio was arrested alongside his father, Eustacio Francisco Eusebio, who, according to authorities, had previously been deported.

Local 10 News has requested a copy of the grand jury indictment.