2 Men Convicted of Fleeing Coast Guard in Florida Keys

The men were arrested in October after fleeing a Coast Guard cutter 30 miles south of Key West.

Two men face up to five years in federal prison after a Florida Keys jury found them guilty of fleeing the Coast Guard aboard personal watercrafts.

The men were arrested in October after fleeing a Coast Guard cutter 30 miles south of Key West. A federal court jury convicted them last week, and they facing sentencing in March.

Coast Guard officials tell The Key West Citizen that the men's activity was suspicious because their watercrafts were equipped with GPS, extra water and gasoline and satellite phones with calls made to Cuba.

Coast Guard investigator Paul Shultz said the men "were 30 miles offshore on Jet Skis with no fishing gear and an excessive amount of life jackets."

Authorities say the men led the 45-minute chase into the Gulf Stream.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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