Tour Boat Operators Charged In Hudson River Capsize That Killed Woman, 7-Year-Old Boy

Federal prosecutors have arrested two New Jersey tour boat operators in the 2022 drowning deaths of a 7-year-old boy and his aunt after their overcrowded vessel capsized while speeding in rough water off Manhattan, authorities said.

Richard Cruz, 32, and Jaime Pinilla Gomez, 25, were taken into custody Thursday and charged with one count each of misconduct and neglect of a ship resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced.

On July 12, 2022, Cruz and Gomez’s 24-foot boat, the “Stimulus Money,” flipped over in the Hudson River while carrying 13 people. The operators allegedly did not have proper credentials or certifications.

While 11 people on the boat were able to escape, Lindelia Vasquez, 48, and 7-year-old Julian Vasquez became trapped beneath the vessel. Their bodies were recovered by a dive team approximately 25 minutes after the capsizing. Their cause of death was drowning, authorities said.

“This case demonstrates the deadly consequences of illegal passenger operations,” Rear Admiral John Mauger said in a statement reacting to the criminal charges. “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims today.”

Neither man was listed as having an attorney.

Cruz purchased the boat in cash off Facebook Marketplace about three months before the deadly accident, and started charging passengers $200 an hour for tours around the area, despite not having the required United States Coast Guard credentials and certifications to do so, authorities said.

Gomez, who was described in the complaint as an “insufficiently experienced mariner,” piloted the boat and allowed 13 people to board for the ill-fated trip, despite the boat’s 12-person limit and a small craft advisory being in effect at