Federal Probe Examines Illegal Charter Claims After Boat Tragedy

Federal authorities are now looking into whether Manuel Hernandez, the captain of the boat that flipped near the Statue of Liberty, was running an illegal charter operation. This probe comes after a terrible night for New York Harbor where Sara Sanchez, 27, and her five-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, lost their lives.

The tragedy happened around 10:30pm on Saturday when the vessel capsized. Hernandez faces new questions as federal officials move forward. He was transferred to federal custody on Sunday after getting treatment for minor injuries at a Brooklyn hospital. His previous state-level charges are no longer being pursued because this federal investigation is taking over. New charges could be announced as early as Monday.

The core of the inquiry focuses on two main points: did the 21-foot boat carry too many people, and was Hernandez running a passenger-for-hire business without the proper US Coast Guard credentials? The source said the vessel typically holds about ten people but had no more than five passengers allowed by safety rules. Instead, it carried 14 people when disaster struck.

Captain Doreen McCarthy of the Coast Guard's New York Sector issued a statement saying they are committed to holding illegal operators accountable to the highest extent of the law to ensure everyone stays safe on our waterways. She also said they are deeply saddened by the loss of life and their thoughts are with the victims' families during this incredibly difficult time.

Zeus Luxury, the company from which the boat was reportedly chartered, is described online as one of the leading companies in limousine, party bus and yacht rentals in the tri-state area. The Daily Mail has reached out to them for comment but has not received a response yet.

Sara Raez, who was on the vessel, told the Post that the group had chartered the boat from Zeus Luxury for her mother Paula Rivera's surprise 41st birthday party. Family and friends boarded the craft at around 7pm, passed by the Statue of Liberty, and were heading back to shore when the water rose up inside the hull. Raez described the flip as happening in seconds before crews could pull people from the water.

The boat went up, then down, and flipped over. All passengers were left stuck underneath the vessel until rescue teams arrived. The scene was chaotic with emergency services rushing to the spot. Uncharted debris and rip rap make recreational boating in New York Harbor dangerous enough without this kind of illegal oversight. Commercial shipping channels and marine plane traffic add to the risks already present in these waters.

We were just trying to get out, Raez said, but the reality was far sadder for the two victims who never made it back. The flip left a mother and baby dead while their husband, Andres Garcia, survived along with others on board. This case highlights how regulations or government directives failing to catch illegal operators can put entire communities at risk. The potential impact is severe when lives are lost due to lack of proper safety equipment or inspection certificates.

The federal investigation moves forward now that state charges have been dropped. Authorities want to know if this was a legitimate charter gone wrong or an unauthorized operation run by someone without the right paperwork. The answer could change how we view safety rules on our waterways and what happens when companies take money without taking responsibility for passenger lives.

Everyone screamed once the evacuation was finally complete, according to Raez. The chaos left a scar on the crew and passengers alike. Sanchez, carrying her five-month-old daughter, was pulled from the sinking vessel only for both to be airlifted to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in critical condition. They never woke up again.

A dozen others survived the initial plunge but required hospital care for minor injuries. Andres, the husband and father of the deceased pair, was also on board that Saturday night. He made it through. His other son is still alive too. The family unit has been shattered beyond recognition. An employee at Il Punto Ristorante, where Andres worked as a waiter, told the Daily Mail about the heartbreak.

'He lost his wife and daughter. It's very sad,' the worker said. Antonio Russo, a manager at the Italian eatery, spoke to W42St about the five-year tenure of the waiter. He described Andres as a 'very hardworking guy.' The restaurant staff knows him well.

Just weeks ago, the couple had welcomed their baby girl. A video shared at the end of January showed Sanchez's pregnant belly covered with lavender butterflies and sparkles. The caption read: 'We love you Antonella.' Now that image is just a memory of what could have been. Garcia has been left to rebuild his life with his six-year-old son, Salvador.

Andres now faces the long road ahead with only his youngest child by his side. His employers have launched a GoFundMe campaign. The page aims to cover funeral expenses and daily living costs for Andres while he is away from work. They also want to help pay 'the many unexpected costs that come with a tragedy of this magnitude,' as the fundraiser stated.

'This past weekend, what was meant to be a joyful family outing ended in an unimaginable tragedy when a boat carrying Andres and his family capsized,' Il Punto Ristorante posted on Facebook alongside the donation link. The message asked their community to keep the grieving father and his son in thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. Regulations that dictate safety protocols often fail families like these, leaving them to pick up the pieces alone.