In a significant development linked to human smuggling, a U.S. court has sentenced an Indian national to over 10 years in prison for orchestrating an illegal crossing that led to the tragic deaths of a Gujarati family in 2022.
The deceased family included Jagdish Patel (39), his wife Vaishali (37), and their children, Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3), who froze to death while crossing from Canada into the United States. This heartbreaking incident exposed the dangers of human smuggling networks operating across North America.
The ringleader, 29-year-old Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, residing in Florida, received a sentence of 10 years and one month. His associate, 50-year-old Steve Anthony Shand, a U.S. citizen also living in Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
According to court documents, prosecutors detailed how the duo facilitated the illegal entry of dozens of Indian nationals by initially bringing them to Canada with fraudulent student visas, then smuggling them across the U.S. border by land. Victims were charged approximately $100,000 each for the perilous journey.
Specifically, Harshkumar arranged for the passage of 11 individuals from Emerson, Manitoba, into the United States. The group was provided instructions to cross the border and was expected to rendezvous with a contact on the American side to continue their journey. Unfortunately, during a severe blizzard, the Patel family became separated from the group and succumbed to the harsh conditions.
Following sentencing, the court ordered Harshkumar’s deportation to India upon completion of his prison term.
This case underscores the deadly risks associated with human trafficking and the legal consequences for those orchestrating such criminal enterprises.
