In a significant blow to international human smuggling operations, the Department of Justice has successfully prosecuted two individuals for their involvement in a large-scale conspiracy.
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, a 29-year-old Indian national formerly residing in Florida, and his accomplice, Steve Anthony Shand, a 50-year-old Floridian, have been sentenced to prison terms of 10 years and one month, and six years and six months, respectively.
According to the Western Journal, the District of Minnesota handed down the sentences. Patel is set to be deported from the United States upon completion of his sentence. The Department of Justice has shed light on the intricate details of the operation Patel and Shand were involved in, revealing the high stakes and substantial profits associated with their illicit activities.
The Department of Justice stated, "Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale human-smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on fraudulent student visas and then smuggled them into the United States across the northern border." The duo was paid handsomely for their roles in the conspiracy, with the going rate for smuggling individuals from India through Canada into the United States standing at a staggering $100,000.
Patel was responsible for organizing the logistics of smuggling aliens from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, with other co-conspirators. Shand, on the other hand, was tasked with picking up the aliens just south of the Canadian border in the United States and driving them to Chicago. The pair showed a complete disregard for the risks posed to the aliens by the cold weather at the northern border.
Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, emphasized the severity of the crimes committed by Patel and Shand. He stated, "Patel and Shand endangered thousands of lives for their personal enrichment and are responsible for the deaths of two small children who froze to death on their watch." Galeotti also expressed gratitude to the prosecutors and law enforcement partners in the U.S. and Canada who are working tirelessly to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota echoed Galeotti's sentiments, stating, "Every time I think about this case I think about this family including two beautiful little children who the defendants left to freeze to death in a blizzard." She further added, "As weve seen time and time again, human traffickers care nothing for humanity. I am proud of the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these defendants accountable for their unspeakable crimes."
One particularly distressing incident from January 2022 involved Patel and Shand organizing a smuggling run in extremely cold and dangerous conditions. This ill-fated expedition resulted in the tragic death of a family of four, including two children aged 11 and 3, who froze to death.
The successful prosecution of Patel and Shand is a testament to the commitment of the current administration to crack down on immigration-related crimes. This commitment was a cornerstone of President Donald Trump's administration, with his Department of Justice, led by Pam Bondi, making it a point to tackle such crimes head-on.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of such criminal activities and the importance of maintaining the integrity of immigration processes.
Login