LOS ANGELES – A Philippines national who fatally stabbed a fellow crew member on a container ship en route from Shanghai to Los Angeles pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge.
Michael Dequito Monegro, 43, a resident of The Philippines, pleaded guilty to one count of committing an act of violence against a person onboard a ship that is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship.
United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer has scheduled a September 12 sentencing hearing, at which time Monegro will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
According to his plea agreement, in September 2020, Monegro was working as a seaman aboard the MSC Ravenna, a 153,000-gross-ton Liberian-flagged container ship. On Sept. 20, 2020, the Ravenna was approximately 80 nautical miles from Southern California, nearing the end of its two-week voyage from Shanghai to the Port of Los Angeles.
That morning, several crew members were preparing for their shift and waiting for their direct supervisor to provide their work assignments for the day. Shortly after Monegro saw his direct supervisor in the hallway outside the locker room, Monegro began stabbing him with a knife while they were both in the hallway in full view of several crewmembers.
Crewmembers attempted, unsuccessfully, to intervene to stop Monegro, including throwing a trash can at him. Monegro admitted that he only stopped stabbing the victim when he became too tired to continue.
The ship’s captain, chief mate and chief engineer all arrived on scene during the incident, and the captain convinced Monegro to get off the victim, who died on the ship from multiple stab wounds.
Monegro was convinced by the captain to walk to a conference room. After continued discussions, Monegro placed the knives on the conference room table and was escorted to his cabin.
Monegro was confined to a cabin and crew members were assigned to guard the door — unable to perform their normal duties on the ship. Other crew members were traumatized by witnessing Monegro stab and kill the victim.
Federal agents arrested Monegro after the ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles on September 27, 2020. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.