A federal jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, found a Bahamian fishing boat captain guilty of second-degree murder in the drowning of three illegal immigrants he was trying to smuggle into the United States.

Rickey Thompson was convicted Wednesday on a total of 30 counts, including importing drugs and smuggling humans _ mostly from Jamaica and Haiti.

Investigators believe he and another man forced the victims from their boat at gunpoint.

Thompson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and $37 million in fines. His sentencing has not been scheduled.

Authorities caught Thompson and his first mate shortly after a December 2006 trip.