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2 Convicted on Human Trafficking Charges After Plot That Led to Death of Indian Family

2 Convicted on Human Trafficking Charges After Plot That Led to Death of Indian Family

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Prosecutors said Shand would pick up 11 Indian immigrants on the Minnesota side of the Canadian border. Only seven people survived the pedestrian crossing.

The two men were convicted of four crimes related to human trafficking, including conspiracy to smuggle immigrants into the country illegally. (Agent/File Photo)

The two men were convicted of four crimes related to human trafficking, including conspiracy to smuggle immigrants into the country illegally. (Agent/File Photo)

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 alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that brought growing 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 prioritize profit and greed over humanity,” said Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger.

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, their lawyers said their client was misidentified. They said the alleged nickname for Patel on Shand’s phone, “Dirty Harry,” 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.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)

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