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Florida man found guilty after scuba diver killed
A federal jury this week found a Florida man guilty of seaman’s manslaughter, lying to the Coast Guard, and committing COVID-19 relief fraud, authorities said.
OCALA, Fla. - A federal jury this week found a Florida man guilty of seaman’s manslaughter, lying to the Coast Guard, and committing COVID-19 relief fraud, authorities said.
The backstory:
Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, bought a 48-foot boat called the Southern Comfort in March 2020 and lied on Coast Guard forms, saying he would use it for recreation when he actually planned to run paid scuba charters.
On March 28, 2020, officials said McCabe took paying passengers on a scuba trip, and the vessel began experiencing mechanical problems, including a propeller unexpectedly engaging and losing steering, but McCabe did not report the issues.
Dustin McCabe (Credit: Marion County jail)
The next day, McCabe took more paying divers out without fixing the boat.
Mollie Ghiz-Flynn was scuba diving with her husband Sean, when, according to court records, the port side propeller started while the boat sat in neutral over a dive spot. The propeller sucked Mollie, and her husband toward it and the Melbourne woman’s legs were twisted in the shaft. Unable to free herself, she drowned.
After the death, McCabe was banned from operating the Southern Comfort but still applied for two COVID-19 relief loans, submitting false information.
What they're saying:
"The propeller sucked the victim into it, mangling and cutting her. It twisted her leg up in its shaft, holding her under water. A medical examiner testified that while the victim’s many deep chop wounds and leg fractures were not fatal on their own, they caused serious pain that contributed to the victim’s death by drowning," according to a U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida's news release.
"Every time I think about it, it hurts me because it's my baby sister, and I just. I know now. She was terrified," said Tiffany Ghiz, Mollie's sister.
She is comforted by knowing that at least her sister's husband was with her when she died.
"Sean was able to think immediately and grab a hold of her. And, you know, at least she knew he was right there. Working and trying, you know, getting her out," she said.
What's next:
McCabe will be sentenced on June 12. He faces up to 10 years in prison for seaman’s manslaughter, up to five years for making false statements, and up to 20 years for wire fraud.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida.