FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — A criminal network that spans from India to Canada is under scrutiny for its role in smuggling families seeking better lives in the United States. Federal prosecutors are set to present their case starting Monday in Minnesota, highlighting the tragic death of a man who perished in extreme weather conditions two years ago while holding his 3-year-old son.
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national, is accused of orchestrating the scheme along with Steve Shand, 50, of Florida. The duo allegedly awaited the arrival of 11 migrants, including a couple and their two children, who tragically died while attempting to cross the border into the U.S.
Prosecutors allege that Patel recruited Shand at a casino located in proximity to Deltona, Florida, where both men reside.
Victims Jagdish Patel, 39, and his wife Vaishaliben, along with their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi and 3-year-old son Dharmik, are believed to have spent hours navigating fields in harsh blizzard conditions with wind chills dropping to minus 36 Fahrenheit. Canadian authorities discovered their frozen bodies on January 19, 2022.
The family hailed from Dingucha village in Gujarat state and was not related to the accused Patel, who has pleaded not guilty, along with Shand.
Federal prosecutors assert that the smuggling operation involved scouting clients in India, securing Canadian student visas, arranging transportation, and illicitly guiding individuals into the U.S., predominantly through Washington state or Minnesota.
Statistical data from the U.S. Border Patrol indicates that over 14,000 Indians were apprehended at the Canadian border in the year ending September 30. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimated that there were over 725,000 Indians residing in the U.S. illegally, ranking behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans.
Patel’s attorney has maintained that his client arrived in America to flee poverty and pursue a better life, asserting that Patel is unjustly accused of participating in a heinous crime. The attorney expressed confidence in the justice system and anticipates that the truth will emerge during the trial.
Court documents reveal that Patel was in the U.S. illegally after being denied a visa at least five times.
During the weeks leading up to the tragic deaths, Patel and Shand reportedly communicated frequently about the severe cold while smuggling multiple groups of Indians across a stretch of border. Shand even texted Patel about the extreme weather conditions, questioning whether migrants would arrive alive.
In a chilling message prior to the final trip in January, Shand urged Patel to ensure that everyone was appropriately dressed for the blizzard. Reports indicate that Shand claimed Patel compensated him around $25,000 for these trips.
Jagdish Patel, who grew up in Dingucha, lived in a family of schoolteachers and sought a promising future alongside his loved ones.
Local immigration attorney Satveer Chaudhary has witnessed the exploitation of migrants, particularly within the Gujarati community, stating that smugglers often lure individuals with false promises of the American dream. He emphasized that these misguided aspirations can lead individuals to take serious risks with their safety and dignity.
