Florida man charged in Canada-U.S. human-smuggling scheme at Manitoba border to be released from custody

A Florida man charged with sneaking migrants across the Canada-U.S. border in a perilous human-smuggling scheme that cost the lives of four people, including an infant, will be released from custody on a number of conditions.

Steve Shand, 47, agreed to the conditions of his release, which means he will have to surrender all of his travel documents, refrain from obtaining any others and stay in the district of Florida where he lives, with the exception of attending court. He will also need to report any interactions with police, refrain from committing any crimes and not be in possession of any weapons.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer said she believes these conditions will assure his appearance in court, and the safety of the community.

"It is very important to your remaining on release that you comply with every one of the conditions that's laid out here," Bowbeer said to Shand in a virtual hearing on Monday afternoon.

"Yes, ma'am," Shand said, appearing in a room from Grand Forks County Correctional Centre wearing an orange jumpsuit, glasses and a black mask.

Shand, of Deltona, Fla., is charged with transporting or attempting to transport undocumented migrants after four people were found dead near Emerson, Man.

The victims, believed to be a family from India who perished in the cold, were found just metres from the border on the Canadian side.

Investigators believe they were part of a larger group of Indian migrants who were trying to get into the U.S. by way of Canada.

U.S. District Attorney Laura Provinzino said the government didn't oppose Shand's release after reviewing the conditions and speaking with his wife, though Provinzino didn't say what that conversation entailed.

The man will be released once he signs papers outlining the conditions of his release and travel back to his home state is arranged.

During the 20-minute appearance, Shand also waived his right to a preliminary hearing, which would assess whether there's probable cause.

The four bodies were found Wednesday, shortly after U.S. Border Patrol agents pulled over a passenger van on the American side and found two other undocumented Indian nationals inside.

At about the same time, agents encountered another group of five migrants, one of whom told the agents they had been walking through the snow and bitter cold for more than 11 hours.

Department of Justice officials say the deaths are likely linked to a larger human smuggling operation — a phenomenon that's practically a fact of daily life in the southern U.S., but rarely seen up north.