2 people convicted in human trafficking case – India TV

Washington: A jury convicted two men of human trafficking-related charges for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian immigrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard, according to a spokeswoman for the prosecution. . Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian citizen who prosecutors say used the pseudonym “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated, illegal operation that brought increasing numbers of Indians to the United States. prosecutors said.

Each was convicted of four counts related to human trafficking, including conspiracy to smuggle immigrants into the country illegally. “This case exposed the unimaginable cruelty of human trafficking and criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” said Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger.

How did a family from Gujarat fall into the trap?

Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; His wife Vaishaliben, who is in her mid-30s; Their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and his 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death on Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the Minnesota border in a plan orchestrated by Patel and Shand. Patel is a common Indian surname and the victims are not related to Harshkumar Patel.

A federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, ahead of a jury’s conviction on Friday, heard testimony from an alleged smuggling ring participant, a survivor of the perilous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts.

Defense attorneys squared off as Shand’s team argued that he had been unknowingly drawn into the scheme by Patel. According to The Canadian Press, Patel’s lawyers said their client was misidentified. They said Patel’s alleged nickname, “Dirty Harry”, which he found on Shand’s phone, was a different person. They added that bank records and witness statements from those who encountered Shand near the border did not link him to the crime.

Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was the driver. Prosecutors said Shand would pick up 11 Indian immigrants on the Minnesota side of the Canadian border. Only seven people survived the pedestrian crossing. Canadian authorities found two parents and their young child dead from the cold later that morning.

Illegal immigration from India

The illegal immigration pipeline from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the US-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended more than 14,000 Indians at the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30; This accounted for 60% of all arrests at the border and more than 10 times the figure two years ago. The Pew Research Center estimates that by 2022, more than 725,000 Indians are living illegally in the United States, behind only Mexicans and Salvadorans.

Special Agent Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations said the case is a reminder of the realities of what human trafficking victims face. “Human trafficking is a vile crime that targets the most vulnerable people, exploiting their desperation and dreams of a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering of this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.”

(With input from the agency)

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