Nearly three years after a couple from India and their two young children froze to death while trying to cross the border from Canada into the U.S., two men on Monday will face trial on human smuggling charges, accused of being part of a criminal network that stretched around the world.
Prosecutors say Indian national Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, ran part of the scheme and recruited Steve Shand, 50, of Florida, to shuttle migrants across the border. Both men have pleaded not guilty in federal court in Minnesota. They will stand trial before U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, with proceedings expected to last about five days.On Jan. 19, 2022, Shand was allegedly waiting in a truck for 11 migrants, including the family of four from the village of Dingucha in Gujarat state.
Harshkumar Patel’s attorney, Thomas Leinenweber, told The Associated Press that his client came to America to escape poverty and build a better life for himself and now "stands unjustly accused of participating in this horrible crime. He has faith in the justice system of his adopted country and believes that the truth will come out at the trial." Attorneys for Shand did not return messages.Court documents filed by prosecutors show Patel was in the U.S.
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