US court sentences Indian-origin mastermind for deaths of Gujarati family crossing US-Canada border
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, a 29-year-old man of Indian origin, has been sentenced to 10 years and 1 month in a US federal prison for masterminding a human smuggling operation that led to the tragic deaths of a family from Gujarat’s Dingucha village.Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel (39), his wife Vaishaliben (37), and their children Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3) froze to death on January 19, 2022, while attempting to illegally cross from Canada into the US in extreme -35°C temperatures. The family had been part of a group being smuggled across the border by Patel’s network.Federal Judge John Tunheim in Minnesota also sentenced Patel’s accomplice, Steve Anthony Shand (50), to 6 years and 6 months in prison. The court condemned the smugglers for exploiting vulnerable individuals and showing no concern for their lives.A U.S. jury found both men guilty in November 2023. During the trial, Acting Federal Prosecutor Lisa Kirkpatrick emotionally stated, “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.”Seven others from the group survived and were rescued by US authorities. One survivor, Yash Patel, testified that they were dropped off on the Canadian side and instructed to walk in a straight line through blinding snow to a van waiting in the US.The deceased family’s bodies were later found on the Canadian side of the border.Harshkumar Patel’s smuggling operation mainly targeted people from Gujarat who entered Canada legally and were then led across the lesser-secured northern US border, unlike the heavily monitored Mexico border. The tragedy exposed the dangers of smuggling through the US-Canada border and brought national attention to the issue.In response to the incident and continued illegal crossings, US President Donald Trump announced in February a 25% tariff on Canada, citing its failure to stop the flow of illegal immigration into the US.(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, a 29-year-old man of Indian origin, has been sentenced to 10 years and 1 month in a US federal prison for masterminding a human smuggling operation that led to the tragic deaths of a family from Gujarat’s Dingucha village.
Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel (39), his wife Vaishaliben (37), and their children Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3) froze to death on January 19, 2022, while attempting to illegally cross from Canada into the US in extreme -35°C temperatures. The family had been part of a group being smuggled across the border by Patel’s network.
Federal Judge John Tunheim in Minnesota also sentenced Patel’s accomplice, Steve Anthony Shand (50), to 6 years and 6 months in prison. The court condemned the smugglers for exploiting vulnerable individuals and showing no concern for their lives.
A U.S. jury found both men guilty in November 2023. During the trial, Acting Federal Prosecutor Lisa Kirkpatrick emotionally stated, “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.”
Seven others from the group survived and were rescued by US authorities. One survivor, Yash Patel, testified that they were dropped off on the Canadian side and instructed to walk in a straight line through blinding snow to a van waiting in the US.
The deceased family’s bodies were later found on the Canadian side of the border.
Harshkumar Patel’s smuggling operation mainly targeted people from Gujarat who entered Canada legally and were then led across the lesser-secured northern US border, unlike the heavily monitored Mexico border. The tragedy exposed the dangers of smuggling through the US-Canada border and brought national attention to the issue.
In response to the incident and continued illegal crossings, US President Donald Trump announced in February a 25% tariff on Canada, citing its failure to stop the flow of illegal immigration into the US.
(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)
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