They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally.
“This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said.
Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said.
Canadian authorities found the Patel family later that morning, dead from the cold.
Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand.
Persons:
Ramanlal Patel, Harry, ”, Steve Shand, Attorney Andy Luger, “, ” Luger, Harshkumar Patel, Luger, Jagdish Patel, Vaishaliben, Dharmik, Jan, Patel, Shand, Prosecutors, Rajinder Singh, Singh, El Salvadorans, Jamie Holt, ” Holt, Kevin Paul, ” Paul
Organizations:
Fergus Falls , Minnesota AP, Indian, Minnesota U.S, Attorney, Minnesota -, Attorney’s, Associated Press, Immigration, Customs, Canadian Press, Bank, U.S ., The U.S . Border Patrol, Pew Research, Homeland Security Investigations
Locations:
Fergus Falls , Minnesota, Canada, U.S, American, Florida, Minnesota, Minnesota - Canadian, Harshkumar Patel Sherburne, India, Gujarat, “, The U.S, El, Clearwater , Minnesota, North Dakota