A man stole a boat from a Stock Island marina and went to Cuba. He was caught by Cuban border guards who took him into custody. He’ll be returned to Monroe County to face criminal charges.
On October 31st, the owner of a white 13 foot Boston Whaler with a 40 horsepower engine on it called the Sheriff’s Office to report it missing. He said he parked it in a slip at Murray Marine the night before with the keys in the ignition. When he returned the morning of the 31st, it was gone. The value of the vessel and motor is estimated to be $4,500.
Surveillance video showed a man wearing a full wet suit at the marina at 10:42 p.m. The man pulls on several ice storage cooler doors, but they are locked. He then walks off camera. A short time later, the stolen Boston Whaler is seen leaving it’s slip and heading northeast. No one can be seen on board.
On November 2nd, an investigator with the U.S. Coast Guard contacted Sheriff’s Detective Sheila Seago, who had been assigned the case to investigate. He said the Coast Guard had received a message from the Cuban Border Guard. They said 38 year old Shawn Michael Luskey had entered Havana Harbor at 5 p.m. on October 31st on a White 13 foot Boston Whaler. Photos of the vessel from Cuban authorities show the FL numbers, which match the stolen vessel, and show Luskey clothed in a full wet suit, like the one seen in the surveillance video.
Detective Seago obtained a warrant for Luskey for grand theft of a vessel with a bond set at $45,000. Cuban authorities say they will be returning him to the United States where he will face the charges.