Trial Ongoing for Men Accused of Human Smuggling

Two men, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand, are on trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, for their alleged roles in a human smuggling scheme that led to the tragic deaths of an Indian family attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border in January 2022. The family—Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two children—froze to death after becoming separated from their group during a severe blizzard, with temperatures plunging to minus 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Testimony revealed that the family had made desperate calls to their smuggler for help, but were told to return to Canada, leading to their demise hours later. Witnesses described the brutal conditions, emphasizing how quickly frostbite could set in during those extreme temperatures. Both Patel and Shand have pleaded not guilty, claiming they were misled and unaware of the dangers involved. The trial continues to explore the broader smuggling network implicated in this tragedy.