HSTF: Jury Convicts Bahamian National in South Florida Cocaine Trafficking and Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

MIAMI - A jury in Fort Lauderdale convicted a Bahamian national for his role in a multi-vessel smuggling operation that transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and dozens of unauthorized migrants from the Bahamas to South Florida.

Terrance Wallace, 32, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine, importing cocaine, and alien smuggling offenses following a jury trial.

"This defendant helped operate a transnational smuggling pipeline that brought both cocaine and unlawful migrants into South Florida by boat," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. "That combination of narcotics trafficking and human smuggling poses a direct threat to public safety and the integrity of our borders. The jury's verdict makes clear that those who work with criminal smuggling organizations to move drugs and people into this country will be prosecuted and held accountable."

"Combatting transnational criminal organizations involved in narcotics and alien smuggling is a significant priority for HSI and the Homeland Security Task Force," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. "Working alongside our HSTF federal, state, and local partners, HSI will utilize every resource at our disposal to pursue and dismantle these criminal organizations to protect our communities and defend our borders. This verdict sends a clear message: HSI will continue to pursue and hold traffickers accountable for endangering lives and threatening public safety."

Five co-defendants - Malik Delancy, 23; Fiero Cooper, 33; Darren Sears, 25; Ivan Curry, 52; and Jeremiah Russell, 19 - previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Aug. 30, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations, working alongside a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter, detected three go-fast vessels traveling from the Bahamas toward South Florida. Once the vessels entered U.S. waters, CBP, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and USCG units moved to intercept. Officers activated emergency lights and sirens and ordered the drivers to stop. One vessel ignored multiple commands, prompting officers to fire warning shots before disabling the boat.

Upon boarding, officers encountered Delancy, Cooper, Sears, Ivan Curry, and Russell. Law enforcement discovered approximately 168 kilograms of cocaine and 31 Chinese nationals on board, none of whom were authorized to enter the U.S.

Separately, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents observed Wallace and Teshawn Curry conducting counter-surveillance near the Fort Pierce Inlet on behalf of the drug trafficking and alien smuggling organization.

The investigation also revealed that Wallace participated in at least two prior successful drug smuggling ventures at the same location, bringing his involvement to more than 500 kilograms of cocaine. Text messages and videos recovered from Wallace's cellphone showed him acting as a lookout during all three operations.

Wallace faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Acting Special Agent in Charge Figueroa, and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA, Miami Field Division, and made the announcement.

DEA West Palm Beach District Office and HSI West Palm Beach investigated the case, with assistance from CBP, USCG, the 7th Coast Guard District, the Davie Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Ustynoski, Ajay Alexander, and Catherine Koontz are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from the DEA, HSI, CBP, USCG, the Davie Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., under case number 25-cr-60233.

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