NEW YORK — The owner of an illegal passenger vessel that capsized on the Hudson River in July 2022, resulting in the deaths of a 7-year-old boy and a 48-year-old woman, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Thursday, federal prosecutors said.
Richard Cruz, the owner of the vessel Stimulus Money, pleaded guilty to misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death. He was arrested in March 2024 along with the boat’s operator, Jaime Pinilla Gomez, and faced a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
An investigation by Coast Guard Sector New York and the Coast Guard Investigative Service revealed that the vessel did not have the required Certificate of Inspection, and its operator lacked a merchant mariner credential necessary for carrying paying passengers. The case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for prosecution.
“My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of those affected by this preventable accident,” said Capt. Jon Andrechik, the Captain of the Port of New York. “Disregarding safety regulations can have tragic consequences, as we saw in this case.”
The Coast Guard is urging the public to verify the licensing and inspection status of charter vessels to prevent similar incidents. Illegal operators can face fines exceeding $60,000, with penalties reaching $117,608 for violating a Captain of the Port Order.