By Trend News Line 2024-03-27 18:43:00.
In a shocking turn of events, a man accused of aiding in the smuggling of people across the U.S.-Canada border into Minnesota, including the tragic deaths of four members of an Indian family in 2022, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to seven counts of human smuggling. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 28, also known as “Dirty Harry,” entered his plea during a brief teleconference with U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo Brisbois of Duluth, Minnesota.
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According to prosecutors, Patel enlisted Steven Shand, 49, to transport the Indian nationals from the Canadian border to the Chicago area. Shand, from Deltona, Florida, also pleaded not guilty to four counts in an updated indictment unsealed last week. Despite being charged with human smuggling two years ago, Shand remains free on his own recognizance, while Patel is currently in federal custody.
Recent court documents revealed that Patel had been denied a U.S. visa five times, indicating that he is in the country illegally. Authorities also linked Patel to a human trafficking group based in the state of Gujarat, India, which facilitated the entry of Indian nationals into Canada on student visas before moving them to the Chicago area to work at Indian restaurants for substandard wages.
Prosecutors allege that Shand was driving a rented 15-passenger van when he was stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol in Minnesota, just south of the Canadian border on Jan. 19, 2022. Inside the van were two individuals from Gujarat who had entered the U.S. illegally, with five others found walking nearby in freezing temperatures below -34°C. Tragically, the group included a family of four who later perished just 10 meters from the border near Emerson, Manitoba.
The victims were identified as Jagdish Patel, 39; his wife, Vaishaliben, 34; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and three-year-old son Dharmik, all from Dingucha in Gujarat. Jagdish and his wife, both educators, sought a better life in the U.S., according to relatives. Their deaths, described by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “mind-blowing,” were a result of harsh weather conditions and treacherous terrain.
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Court documents revealed messages exchanged between Shand and Patel via WhatsApp, discussing preparations for the hazardous journey. Shand was paid approximately $25,000 for multiple trips to the border, dropping off passengers at various locations in the Chicago area. The tragic incident has shed light on the dangers faced by individuals seeking a better life through illegal means.
The harrowing details of this case serve as a stark reminder of the risks involved in human smuggling operations and the devastating consequences that can result. As legal proceedings continue, authorities are working diligently to uncover the full extent of the operation and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The tragic loss of life in this case serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing the root causes of such criminal activities and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation..
Man charged smuggling Indian family died Canada-U.S. border pleads guilty
Man charged smuggling Indian family died Canada-U.S. border pleads not guilty.
