Human Smugglers Sentenced After Family Freezes to Death on US-Canada Border

Two men, Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a human smuggling operation responsible for the deaths of a family of four from India who froze to death near the U.S.-Canada border in a blizzard. The family, consisting of Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishali, and their children Vihangi and Dharmik, became lost and succumbed to extreme cold while attempting to cross illegally from Manitoba into Minnesota. Patel, the alleged ringleader based in Chicago, coordinated trips smuggling migrants from Canada into the U.S., while Shand, a Florida resident, drove migrants across the border and failed to assist the family despite the life-threatening conditions. Prosecutors described the operation as prioritizing profit over human lives and recommended nearly 20 years for Patel and over 10 years for Shand. The men were convicted on charges including conspiracy to transport aliens causing serious bodily injury and attempted transportation for commercial advantage. Defense attorneys claimed Patel was wrongfully accused and Shand was duped into participating, but the jury found both guilty after a short deliberation.