Texas Man Arrested for Stealing Boat, Heading to Cuba: Shocking Details!

Stock Island, Florida, United States - It’s not every day that someone decides to take a rental boat on an unauthorized trip to Cuba, but that’s precisely what 63-year-old Floyd Dean Devasier from Katy, Texas, found himself in hot water for. Devasier was arrested after infamously stealing a boat from the Beach Weekend Key West Marina in Stock Island, Florida, and making his way towards the Caribbean island. According to WSVN, what began as a two-day rental adventure turned into a federal case.

Devasier rented a 26.5-foot Panga-style vessel but failed to return it as contractually agreed upon, which raised immediate eyebrows among marina staff. Before setting sail on Tuesday, he even purchased a 20-gallon fuel tank, further alarming the crew at the marina. He assured employees he’d dock the boat overnight at Front Street, yet local businesses reported they never laid eyes on the vessel. Security footage didn’t help his cause, showing no sign of him docking as he claimed. GPS data showed the boat making a beeline south into the Atlantic, indicating something fishy was afoot, as confirmed by WLRN.

The Unseen Journey

The apparent adventure took a turn for the worse when the boat’s GPS tracking ceased and the marina contacted U.S. Coast Guard and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Astonishingly, fishermen later spotted the wayward vessel offshore, providing authorities with photographs to piece together the puzzle. Meanwhile, the Cuban Border Guard had a hand in the conclusion of this bizarre saga. On Wednesday, they reported to U.S. officials that they had apprehended Devasier and a 38-year-old companion, alongside the stolen boat, creating quite the headline in the local community.

What led Devasier to embark on this illegal journey? Besides the unexplained intentions of the duo, there remains the stark reality that U.S. citizens are prohibited from traveling to Cuba via recreational vessels without prior governmental approval. His actions are alarming enough to warrant a warrant upon return to Miami, as noted by CBS News. Devasier now faces serious federal charges for hiring or leasing with the intent to defraud.

A Checkered Past

Interestingly, Devasier’s history isn’t squeaky clean, either. Authorities disclosed that he has multiple previous convictions related to drug offenses. Remarkably, there was a 2019 incident where another vessel that he rented and kept past its due date was also discovered in Cuba. It’s clear there’s something to be said about Devasier’s choices, and the local sheriff, Rick Ramsay, acknowledged the extensive support from both the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies during this peculiar investigation.

As the story unfolds, one can’t help but wonder what was going through Devasier’s mind leading up to his escapade across the waters. While the keys bring a certain charm, they also hold a lesson: some adventures come with strings attached, and ignoring the rules can lead one down a rather rocky path!