An Indian migrant who survived a deadly trek across the Canada-U.S. border in blizzard conditions is set to testify in the federal trial of two men accused of participating in a human smuggling scheme that resulted in the tragic deaths of a family of four.
Prosecutors claim that Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, a 29-year-old Indian national, and Steve Shand, aged 50, prioritized financial gain over human life by attempting to smuggle Indian migrants into Minnesota over a five-week period. Patel allegedly ran part of the smuggling operation and enlisted Shand as a driver. Both men have pleaded not guilty to four federal charges related to human smuggling.
