Latest news with #Shand
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Guj man gets 10-yr jail in US for Dingucha deaths
1 2 3 New York: Two men have been sentenced to jail in the US for their roles in a human trafficking racket that resulted in the death of a Dingucha couple and their two children in Jan 2022. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and his co-conspirator Steve Anthony Shand, 50, 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 US across the northern border. Ramanlal Patel, an Indian national from Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in the conspiracy. He will be deported from the US following his sentence. Shand was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, the US Department of Justice said in a statement on Wednesday. In Jan 2022, four family members -- Jagdish Patel, 39, Vaishaliben Patel, 37, Vihangi Patel, 11 and Dharmik Patel, 3, were found frozen to death near Emerson, Manitoba, approximately 12 metres from the Canada-US border, while attempting to enter America illegally. Ramanlal Patel was arrested by authorities from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 2024 for his involvement in the human smuggling conspiracy. "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," acting US attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota said. "As we've seen time and time again, human traffickers care nothing for humanity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo I am proud of the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these defendants accountable for their unspeakable crimes," she said. The Justice Department statement said Ramanlal Patel organised the logistics of smuggling individuals from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, with other co-conspirators, and Shand picked them up just south of the Canadian border in the US and drove them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed to the persons by the cold weather at the northern border. According to evidence at trial, the going rate to be smuggled from India through Canada into the United States was $100,000. "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," said Matthew R Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in the US and in Canada who are working to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States," he said. On Jan 18 and 19, 2022, Ramanlal Patel and Shand, despite repeated warnings about the dangers, organised the smuggling of 11 people, including the Patel family of four, from Canada into the US on foot in severe winter weather conditions. On the evening of Jan 18, Shand sent Ramanlal Patel a screenshot with a blizzard alert warning of wind gusts as high as 50 mph (about 80 km per hour) and wind chill temperatures below -45 degrees. The recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of Jan 19 was -36 degrees. In the early morning hours of Jan 19, during blizzard conditions in Minnesota, a US Border Patrol agent found Shand's van stuck in the snow and arrested him along with two individuals. Contrary to Shand's statement to law enforcement that there were no other individuals out in the snow, five more persons emerged from the fields, including one suffering from hypothermia with an internal temperature below 90 degrees, who was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St Paul, Minnesota. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the dead bodies of the Patel family frozen in an isolated area on the Canadian side of the international border. The three-year-old boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father's frozen glove covering his face. As proven at trial, Ramanlal Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle the family into the US. In November 2024, a federal jury convicted Ramanlal Patel and Shand of conspiracy to bring individuals to the US, causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. They were also convicted of attempted transportation of individuals for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of individuals. Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St Paul said the sentencing marks a crucial moment of accountability in a case that revealed the harrowing realities of human smuggling. "The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten. At HSI, we remain steadfast in our mission to work with our partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity," Holt said. PTI
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
US jails 2 men for smuggling plot that froze Indian family at Canada border
Two men, including an Indian national, have been sentenced to prison in the United States for their roles in a human trafficking operation that caused the death of an Indian couple and their two children at the US-Canada border in January 2022. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian citizen living in Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison. He will be deported after serving his jail sentence. His accomplice, 50-year-old Steve Anthony Shand, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. Both were involved in a smuggling network that brought Indian nationals to Canada on fake student visas and then helped them cross illegally into the United States. Family froze to death near border The case pertains to a tragic incident in January 2022, when four members of a family — Jagdish Patel, 39; Vaishaliben Patel, 37; their daughter Vihangi, 11; and son Dharmik, 3 — were found frozen to death near Emerson, Manitoba, about 12 metres from the US border. They had attempted to cross into the US on foot during extreme winter conditions. Ramanlal Patel was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 2024 for his involvement in the smuggling scheme. '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,' said Acting US Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota. 'As we've 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,' she added. Deadly smuggling route, ignored warnings According to the Justice Department, Ramanlal Patel coordinated the movement of people from Manitoba into the US, while Shand picked them up just across the border and drove them to Chicago. Both men received payment for their roles, ignoring the life-threatening weather conditions. Evidence at the trial revealed that smuggling someone from India to the US via Canada could cost as much as $100,000. "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,' said Matthew R Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in the US and in Canada who are working to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States,' he said. Fatal journey in sub-zero temperatures On January 18 and 19, 2022, despite multiple warnings about the extreme cold, Patel and Shand arranged for 11 people, including the Patel family, to be smuggled across the border on foot. Shand had sent a weather alert to Patel warning of wind speeds up to 80 km/h and wind chill as low as -45°C. By the morning of January 19, temperatures had fallen to -36°C. A US Border Patrol agent found Shand's van stuck in the snow and arrested him along with two passengers. Despite Shand's claim that no one else was out in the snow, five more people emerged from the surrounding fields. One of them, suffering from severe hypothermia, was flown to a hospital in St Paul, Minnesota. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the Patel family's frozen bodies in a remote area on the Canadian side of the border. The youngest child, just three years old, was wrapped in a blanket, with his father's frozen glove covering his face. Convicted and held accountable In November 2024, a federal jury found both men guilty of conspiracy to bring individuals into the US, causing serious injury, endangering lives, and attempting to transport individuals for financial gain. They were also convicted of aiding and abetting this illegal transport. Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in St Paul described the sentencing as a key moment of justice. 'The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten. At HSI, we remain steadfast in our mission to work with our partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity,' Holt said.
Canada Standard
2 days ago
- Canada Standard
US Court hands down prison sentences for human smugglers involved in tragic deaths of 4 Indian nationals
Washington, DC [US], May 29 (ANI): The District of Minnesota on Wednesday (local time) sentenced two men for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals, including a three-year-old and an 11-year-old child, in January 2022, according to US Department of Justice press release. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national formerly of Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Patel will be removed from the United States following his sentence. His co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, of Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. '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,' said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in the US and in Canada who are working to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States.' According to evidence presented at trial, 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. Patel, along with other co-conspirators, organised the logistics of smuggling aliens from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, and Shand picked up the aliens just south of the Canadian border and drove them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed to the aliens by the cold weather at the northern border. The US Department of Justice cited the evidence at trial, 'the going rate to be smuggled from India through Canada into the United States was USD 100,000.' '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,' said Acting US Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota. 'As we've 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.' On January 18 and 19, 2022, Patel and Shand, despite repeated warnings about the dangers, organised the smuggling of 11 aliens from Canada into the United States on foot in severe winter weather conditions, including a family of four - two adults, and their 11-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. The release added that on the evening of January 18, Shand sent Patel a screenshot with a blizzard alert warning of wind gusts as high as 50 mph and wind chill temperatures below -45 degrees. The recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of January 19 was -36 degrees. In the early morning hours of January 19, during blizzard conditions in Minnesota, a US Border Patrol agent found Shand's van stuck in the snow and arrested Shand along with two aliens. Contrary to Shand's statement to law enforcement that there were no other aliens out in the snow, five more aliens emerged from the fields, including one suffering hypothermia with an internal temperature below 90 degrees, who was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the dead bodies of the family of four frozen in an isolated area on the Canadian side of the international border. The boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father's frozen glove covering his face. As proven at trial, Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle the family into the United States, read the release. In November 2024, a federal jury convicted both defendants of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, conspiracy to transport aliens within the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens, as per the US department of Justice. 'Today's sentencing marks a crucial moment of accountability in a case that revealed the harrowing realities of human smuggling,' said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. 'The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten. At HSI, we remain steadfast in working with our partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity.' HSI and US Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. The RCMP and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. This case was also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department's Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates with and receives assistance from other US government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities. Notably, trial attorney Ryan Lipes of the Criminal Division's HRSP and Assistant US Attorney Michael P. McBride of the District of Minnesota prosecuted the case. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 days ago
- India Gazette
US Court hands down prison sentences for human smugglers involved in tragic deaths of 4 Indian nationals
Washington, DC [US], May 29 (ANI): The District of Minnesota on Wednesday (local time) sentenced two men for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals, including a three-year-old and an 11-year-old child, in January 2022, according to US Department of Justice press release. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national formerly of Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Patel will be removed from the United States following his sentence. His co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, of Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. '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,' said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in the US and in Canada who are working to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States.' According to evidence presented at trial, 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. Patel, along with other co-conspirators, organised the logistics of smuggling aliens from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, and Shand picked up the aliens just south of the Canadian border and drove them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed to the aliens by the cold weather at the northern border. The US Department of Justice cited the evidence at trial, 'the going rate to be smuggled from India through Canada into the United States was USD 100,000.' '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,' said Acting US Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota. 'As we've 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.' On January 18 and 19, 2022, Patel and Shand, despite repeated warnings about the dangers, organised the smuggling of 11 aliens from Canada into the United States on foot in severe winter weather conditions, including a family of four - two adults, and their 11-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. The release added that on the evening of January 18, Shand sent Patel a screenshot with a blizzard alert warning of wind gusts as high as 50 mph and wind chill temperatures below -45 degrees. The recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of January 19 was -36 degrees. In the early morning hours of January 19, during blizzard conditions in Minnesota, a US Border Patrol agent found Shand's van stuck in the snow and arrested Shand along with two aliens. Contrary to Shand's statement to law enforcement that there were no other aliens out in the snow, five more aliens emerged from the fields, including one suffering hypothermia with an internal temperature below 90 degrees, who was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the dead bodies of the family of four frozen in an isolated area on the Canadian side of the international border. The boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father's frozen glove covering his face. As proven at trial, Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle the family into the United States, read the release. In November 2024, a federal jury convicted both defendants of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, conspiracy to transport aliens within the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens, as per the US department of Justice. 'Today's sentencing marks a crucial moment of accountability in a case that revealed the harrowing realities of human smuggling,' said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. 'The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten. At HSI, we remain steadfast in working with our partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity.' HSI and US Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. The RCMP and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. This case was also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department's Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates with and receives assistance from other US government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities. Notably, trial attorney Ryan Lipes of the Criminal Division's HRSP and Assistant US Attorney Michael P. McBride of the District of Minnesota prosecuted the case. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian sentenced in US for human trafficking, involvement in death of family of four
A 29-year-old Indian man was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison by a US District Court in Minnesota on Thursday, following a jury trial, for his alleged role as a co-conspirator in an international human smuggling case in 2022. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, known as 'Dirty Harry', was convicted in the case involving the death of the four members of the Patel family in 2022. The family --- Jagdish Patel (39), Vaishaliben (37) and their children aged 11 and 3 --- froze to death while crossing the Canadian border. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police found their bodies just north of the Manitoba-Minnesota border on January 19, 2022. Patel, convicted by a US court in November 2024, and another accused, Steve Anthony Shand, were paid around $100,000 for smuggling migrants from India into America through Canada. Shand was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Meanwhile, Patel will be removed from the United States after completing his sentence. 'According to evidence presented at trial, 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. Patel organised the logistics of smuggling aliens from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, with other co-conspirators, and Shand picked up the aliens just south of the Canadian border in the United States and drove them to Chicago,' said a statement issued by the US justice department after Patel and Shand were sentenced. Also Read: How US cops zeroed in on Gujarat's Dirty Harry and his trafficking racket The US prosecutors were able to prove that Patel and Shand disregarded the physical safety of several of these illegal migrants, which led to the deaths of four Indian nationals in January 2022. According to the law enforcement agencies, Patel and Shand attempted to smuggle 11 migrants from Canada into the United States despite freezing weather conditions. America's department of homeland security and the US customs and border protection were responsible for conducting the investigation with assistance from the justice department and Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Also Read: Will the real Dirty Harry please stand up? '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. This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations,' head of the justice department's criminal division Matthew R. Galeotti said. Migration issues featured in high level diplomatic conversations between India and the US on Thursday as India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri met America's deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau.
