Man accused of smuggling Indian family that died near Canada-U.S. border arrested in Chicago
CBC
U.S. authorities have arrested a man in connection with the deaths of an Indian family of four who froze to death near Manitoba's southern border with the United States two years ago.
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel — also known as Dirty Harry, according to officials who have identified five aliases — has been charged in U.S. federal court in the District of Minnesota for transportation of an illegal alien and conspiracy.
The Patel family (of no relation) died of exposure on Jan. 19, 2022, while attempting to cross illegally into Minnesota near Emerson, Man. The frozen bodies of 39-year-old Jagdish Patel, his 37-year-old wife, Vaishali, their 11-year -old daughter, Vihangi, and three-year-old son, Dharmik, were found just 12 metres from the U.S. border.
Court documents allege Harshkumar Patel managed a gambling establishment in Florida and recruited alleged smuggler Steve Shand, another Florida resident who is already awaiting trial in federal court in Minnesota for transporting illegal migrants.
On the morning of Jan. 19, 2022, U.S. border patrol agents arrested Shand and two migrants in a rented 15-seater passenger van on a snowy highway in Minnesota, just south of the Canadian border near Emerson, Man. Five other migrants were caught by the border patrol walking down the same highway shortly after.
The latest charges for Harshkumar Patel, contained in a September 2023 arrest warrant and supporting affidavit unsealed Thursday, reveal new details about the night the Patel family died, including cellphone texts Harshkumar Patel shared with Shand that investigators say show how he facilitated the smuggling of the Patel family on the U.S. side of the border.
"Make sure everyone is dressed for the blizzard," Shand texted Harshkumar Patel on the evening of Jan. 18 — the day before the family was found dead, according to court records.
Harshkumar Patel texted back less than a minute later: "Done."
"We not losing any money," Shand immediately replied.
U.S. authorities also allege that Harshkumar Patel provided Shand with GPS coordinates to a pick-up spot near the U.S.-Canada border and two phone numbers of contacts in Canada.
During a March 9, 2022, interview with a U.S. Homeland Security investigator, "Shand described five total trips he had made to the international border in Minnesota in December 2021 and January 2022 to transport Indian nationals."
He further told investigators that "he has made a total of approximately $25,000 US in smuggling proceeds" working for Harshkumar Patel.
For the Jan. 18-19, 2023, smuggling incident alone, the court documents allege Shand was paid $2,900 US in cash from Harshkumar Patel up front and then paid another $5,000 US in cash after his release.
In addition to the allegations against Harshkumar Patel, the new affidavit also contains information linking another alleged smuggler to the family's death
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