Unlicensed NYC boat operator allegedly ignored safety warnings before mother, baby died in capsizing: feds

A New Jersey antheral accused of moving amerciable vessel tours allegedly ignored aggregate information warnings earlier an overcrowded New York Harbor excursion turned deadly, sidesplitting a 5-month-old babe and her 27-year-old mother.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manville, was charged Monday with 2 counts of misconduct and neglect of a vessel serviceman resulting successful decease aft the Yamaha AR210 helium was piloting capsized Saturday night.

Hernandez appeared Monday earlier U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo connected the 2 charges, each of which carries a maximum condemnation of 10 years successful prison.

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Courtroom sketch of Manuel Hernandez, 46, during his national tribunal quality pursuing the deadly New York Harbor vessel capsizing. (Jane Rosenberg)

Federal prosecutors accidental Hernandez was not licensed to transportation paying passengers, had 14 radical aboard a vessel with a maximum capableness of 10 and knowingly took the babe retired without an due beingness vest.

According to the national complaint, it was not Hernandez’s archetypal clip allegedly taking paying customers onto New York Harbor without the required credentials.

After his arrest, Hernandez allegedly told investigators helium had antecedently piloted astatine slightest 2 different vessel tours for the aforesaid circuit institution utilizing his ain vessel.

He allegedly acknowledged helium lacked the required Merchant Mariner Credential and Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for those trips and said helium was paid astir $1,000 for each.

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A societal media advertisement from the circuit relation promoted vessel charters for up to 12 radical for $1,200 implicit 4 hours, according to the national complaint. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York)

Coast Guard Investigative Service Assistant Director Josh Packer said amerciable charter operations "gamble with quality life."

"In this case, the alleged behaviour led to an unthinkable tragedy," Packer said.

Before Saturday’s fatal travel adjacent began, Hernandez allegedly asked the baby’s parents whether they had an infant-sized flotation device. When they said they did not, Hernandez told them the vessel did not person 1 either, according to the complaint.

Despite that, Hernandez allegedly instructed 1 genitor to deterioration a beingness vest and clasp the babe passim the tour. The child’s parent did so.

OVERCROWDED MIGRANT VESSEL WITH 240 PEOPLE ON BOARD INTERCEPTED NEAR TURKS AND CAICOS

A crane lifts the capsized Yamaha AR210 from New York Harbor aft the vas overturned during an Aug. 8, 2026, paid vessel tour. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York)

About 3 hours and 20 minutes into the excursion, Hernandez allegedly made a U-turn portion heading toward the Statue of Liberty, bringing the vas into a swell that whitethorn person been caused by the aftermath of a larger passing boat.

Hernandez tried to accelerate done the swell, but it swamped the bow and the vas "immediately capsized," prosecutors allege.

All 14 radical were thrown into the harbor. Eleven passengers and Hernandez survived, portion the parent and babe were recovered unresponsive and aboriginal pronounced dormant astatine a Brooklyn hospital.

"The suspect allegedly flouted those regulations erstwhile helium transported paying customers connected a commercialized vas without due licenses, overcrowded the vessel, and took connected a five-month-old babe passenger, with nary babe beingness vests onboard," U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said.

The vessel utilized successful the fatal travel belonged to a person and was smaller than Hernandez’s ain vessel, which needed mechanical repairs, according to the complaint.

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The overturned Yamaha AR210 is tied to a pier aft capsizing successful New York Harbor connected Aug. 8, 2026. All 14 radical aboard were thrown into the water, and a 27-year-old parent and her 5-month-old girl died, according to national prosecutors. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York)

Hernandez allegedly told investigators helium did not cognize the borrowed boat’s maximum capableness and had expected 12 passengers earlier yet agreeing to instrumentality 13.

The victims were identified successful a GoFundMe organized by friends and colleagues arsenic Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia. Sanchez’s spouse and Antonella’s father, Andres Garcia, was besides aboard the vessel and survived.

Sara Sanchez is pictured with her partner, Andres Garcia, and their older lad successful a household photograph shared with a GoFundMe organized aft the New York Harbor tragedy. Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, died successful the capsizing, portion Garcia, who was besides aboard the boat, survived. (GoFundMe)

Garcia is present grieving their deaths portion caring for the couple’s 6-year-old son, Salvador, according to the fundraiser, which is raising wealth for ceremonial expenses and different costs. "No magnitude of wealth tin regenerate Sara oregon Antonella," organizers wrote.

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NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Hernandez showed "a implicit disregard for the information of his passengers."

"This calamity could person been prevented, and present a household is near to grieve the unimaginable nonaccomplishment of a parent and her five-month-old girl due to the fact that of his negligence," Tisch said.