Florida Scuba Charter Owner Indicted for Manslaughter

Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, owner of Florida Scuba Charters, Inc., has been indicted on charges including seaman's manslaughter following the death of Mollie Ghiz-Flynn during an unauthorized scuba diving charter in March 2020. McCabe allegedly misrepresented the intended use of his 48-foot vessel, the Southern Comfort, to the U.S. Coast Guard and made modifications to the boat to facilitate paid charters. During a trip, as Ghiz-Flynn and her husband attempted to re-board the boat, McCabe reportedly reversed the vessel, causing Ghiz-Flynn to be caught in the propellers, leading to her drowning. In addition to the manslaughter charge, McCabe is facing fraud charges related to the fraudulent acquisition of two Paycheck Protection Program loans. If convicted, he could face significant prison time, with the manslaughter charge alone carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years. The case has raised serious concerns about the safety practices within the recreational diving industry.