Illegal Charter Boat Service Leads To Conviction Of Tampa Man

TAMPA, FL ? A Tampa man is prohibited from operating any watercraft for five years after being convicted of operating an unlicensed charter boat service.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington sentenced Obed Almaguer Garrido, 48, to five years? probation, during which he isn't allowed to operate any boats. He also received 100 community service hours for violating a U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Order.

According to the Coast Guard, illegal passenger vessels pose a danger to passengers because unlicensed operators do not have the requisite knowledge to safely operate a commercial service and the boats have not been inspected to ensure they meet Coast Guard safety requirements.

Garrido pleaded guilty on Aug. 18.

According to court documents, Garrido was the owner of a state-registered recreational boat and operated the boat as a commercial charter service on Tampa Bay without U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentials.

Despite being issued a Captain of the Port Order to cease operations, Garrido continued to operate his commercial passenger service, according to the Coast Guard.

?The Coast Guard will continue to aggressively pursue vessel operators who needlessly place the lives of patrons at risk by not complying with Coast Guard passenger vessel regulations," said Capt. Matthew Thompson, commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "We'd like to remind those who charter a boat, they should choose a vessel with a certified captain and crew. This criminal conviction demonstrates the aggressive posture the Coast Guard and our partners from the U.S. Attorney?s Office have taken to protect the lives of those who charter passenger vessels.?

This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (Southeast Region), with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Sector (St. Petersburg Investigations Division).