Jury finds two men guilty in deadly human smuggling operation

November 22 – FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – Two men were found guilty in a human trafficking operation that resulted in the death of a family of four three years ago.

A federal jury in Fergus Falls returned a guilty verdict on four human trafficking charges Friday, Nov. 22, after a five-day trial and less than a day of deliberation.

Hari Patel, 29, an Indian citizen, and Steve Shand, 50, of Florida, were part of a massive smuggling operation that brought immigrants from India to the United States via Canada. On January 19, 2022, in what one witness described as extreme weather conditions, a family of four, including two children ages 11 and 3, froze to death while trying to cross the Minnesota border.

The bodies of the Patel family (39-year-old Jagdish, 34-year-old Vaishaliben, 11-year-old Vihangi and 3-year-old Dharmik) were found by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near Emerson, Manitoba, just meters from the international border. The family does not have any relationship with the defendant.

Shand and Patel were accused of using fake student visas to smuggle immigrants into the United States. When they arrived in the United States, they were driven to Chicago.

US Attorney Andrew Luger said: “This case has exposed the unimaginable cruelty of human trafficking and the lengths to which traffickers will go to maximize profit, placing men, women and young children in extraordinary danger, ultimately leading to the tragic deaths of entire families.” led.” a statement. “Today, we brought those responsible to justice. For this, I thank all law enforcement agencies involved, including the prosecutorial team in my office and the Department of Justice, for their tenacity.”

Responsible for Homeland Security Investigations, St. Paul Special Agent Jamie Holt said partnerships between local, state, federal and international agencies are vital in situations like these.

“This tragic case is a stark reminder of the horrific realities of human trafficking. The unimaginable suffering endured by this family underscores the urgent need for strong partnerships with law enforcement,” he said in a statement.

In closing arguments Thursday, Patel’s attorney, Thomas Plunkett, argued that Shand was at fault for lying to authorities after his capture and delaying emergency response for hours. Shand’s attorney, federal defender Aaron Morrison, said his client was naive and that although the incident was a “huge, terrible international tragedy,” the men were not to blame.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike McBride presented the government’s closing arguments.

“They were lost, dying of cold,” he said. “They needed to know that no one was coming to get them.”

A date for sentencing has not yet been set, according to the courthouse clerk.