Man convicted of human smuggling after family froze to death at Manitoba border files notice of appeal

Steve Shand, one of the two men convicted of human smuggling in a tragic case that resulted in the death of a family of four from India, has recently filed a notice of appeal in the United States District Court in the District of Minnesota. The appeal aims to challenge both his conviction and sentence, particularly focusing on the application of sentencing guidelines in the case.

Last week, Shand and his co-accused, Harshkumar Patel, were handed lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a scheme to bring Indian migrants into the U.S. from Canada. Patel, an Indian national, was sentenced to just over 10 years in prison for coordinating the smuggling operation and hiring Shand, a Florida resident, to transport the migrants once they crossed the border into the U.S.

Shand was arrested near the border on the night the Patel family tragically perished. The frozen bodies of Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishali, and their two children, Vihangi and Dharmik, were found in a snow-covered Manitoba field just meters from the U.S. border on a bitterly cold day in January 2022. The extreme weather conditions proved fatal as the family succumbed to the freezing temperatures while attempting to cross the border on foot.

Following their trial last November, Shand and Patel were convicted on all charges related to bringing unauthorized individuals into the U.S., transporting them, and profiting from the illegal operation. Shand’s notice of appeal comes more than three years after the tragic incident, signaling his determination to challenge the legal proceedings and seek a different outcome.

While no notice of appeal has been filed yet for Harshkumar Patel, his lawyer has indicated plans to challenge the verdict in the near future. The sentencing of both men has sparked debates over the severity of their punishment, with prosecutors recommending lengthy prison terms while defense lawyers argued for more lenient sentences.

Despite the convictions and sentencing, the case has left unanswered questions about accountability in Canada, where no one is currently facing charges in connection to the smuggling operation. The investigation by the RCMP remains ongoing, with no clear updates provided on any potential developments in the case.

As the legal battle continues through the appeals process, the memory of the Patel family’s tragic end serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of human smuggling operations that put vulnerable individuals at risk in pursuit of a better life.