Sentencing set Wednesday for human smugglers convicted after death of family near Manitoba-U.S. border

Two men convicted of human smuggling in a tragic case where a family of four from India froze to death while attempting to cross the border from Manitoba into the U.S. in 2022 are awaiting their sentencing in a Minnesota courthouse on Wednesday.

Steve Shand, a resident of Florida, and Harshkumar Patel, an Indian national arrested in Chicago, will learn their fates during sentencing hearings scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Fergus Falls, Minn. The men were found guilty in November on all four charges each related to bringing unauthorized individuals into the U.S., transporting them, and profiting from the illegal activity.

The jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes before reaching their verdicts. This case has been ongoing for over three years since the tragic deaths of four members of the Patel family. Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishali, 37, their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi, and their three-year-old son Dharmik were discovered frozen in a snow-drifted Manitoba field just 12 meters from the U.S. border on a frigid day in January 2022.

The extreme cold weather conditions, with temperatures reaching -23 C and wind chills making it feel like -35 to -38, proved fatal for the family as they attempted to cross the border on foot. Shortly after the tragic discovery of the Patel family, Shand was apprehended near the border with other Indian nationals in the van he was operating.

Prosecutors have requested a sentence of over 10 years for Shand, highlighting evidence presented during the trial that indicated he was aware of the dangerous conditions but continued to transport migrants. Harshkumar Patel, who allegedly orchestrated the smuggling operation and hired Shand, was arrested in Chicago in February 2024.

Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of more than 19 years for Patel, arguing that he has shown no remorse for his actions and continues to deny any involvement in the smuggling scheme. Patel’s defense maintains his innocence, while Shand’s attorneys claim he was unwittingly deceived by Patel into transporting migrants into the U.S. after they crossed the border illegally.

Both defendants have requested lighter sentences than what the prosecution is advocating for. Despite pleas for acquittal or new trials, a judge recently denied these requests, asserting that the evidence against the men was sufficient.

The sentencing of Shand and Patel marks a significant moment in this tragic case that resulted in the loss of four innocent lives. As the families of the victims seek closure and justice, the outcome of the sentencing hearings will bring a sense of accountability to those responsible for the human smuggling operation that led to such devastating consequences.