Washington, D.C. / Minneapolis: Two men were sentenced in the United States for their roles in an international human smuggling operation that led to the tragic deaths of four Indian nationals, including two young children, in January 2022 near the U.S.-Canada border.
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison. He will be deported following his sentence. His co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, of Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The sentences were handed down by the District of Minnesota and mark a pivotal moment in a case that underscores the deadly consequences of human smuggling networks operating across international borders.
Deaths in a Blizzard: The Tragic Case of January 2022
On January 18–19, 2022, Patel and Shand attempted to smuggle 11 Indian nationals from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States during a brutal blizzard. Despite receiving multiple weather alerts—including a wind chill warning of –45°F (–43°C)—the pair continued with the operation.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent later found Shand’s van stuck in snow near the border. He initially claimed there were no others outside, but five more migrants soon emerged from the field—one suffering from severe hypothermia.
Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) discovered the frozen bodies of a family of four—a mother, father, 11-year-old daughter, and a 3-year-old son—just meters from the U.S. border. The child was found wrapped in a blanket with his father’s glove frozen to his face.
“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,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
$100,000 Per Journey: The Lucrative Smuggling Operation
Evidence presented during trial revealed that Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale network smuggling Indian nationals into the U.S. from Canada via fraudulent student visas. The fee to be smuggled from India through Canada into the U.S. was estimated at USD 100,000 per individual.
Patel coordinated logistics from Canada, while Shand handled transport into the U.S., often delivering migrants to Chicago. The men were allegedly paid for each successful crossing, despite being fully aware of the life-threatening risks involved.
“Patel and Shand endangered thousands of lives for their personal enrichment and are responsible for the deaths of two small children,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division.
“This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations.”
Convictions and Prosecutions
In November 2024, both men were convicted by a federal jury on the following charges:
- Conspiracy to bring aliens into the U.S. resulting in serious bodily injury and jeopardy to life
- Conspiracy to transport aliens within the U.S. for financial gain
- Attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage
- Aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan Lipes (DOJ’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. McBride of the District of Minnesota.
International Collaboration and National Security
The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with critical support from RCMP and the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs.
The case was also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT), a DOJ-HSI partnership focused on high-risk human smuggling networks with national security and humanitarian implications.
“The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten,” said Jamie Holt, HSI Special Agent in Charge.
“We remain steadfast in working with partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks and bring justice to those responsible.”