Midwest

Human smugglers convicted after Indian family freezes to death trying to illegally cross northern border

Published

1 year ago

November 24, 2024

Human smugglers convicted after Indian family freezes to death trying to illegally cross northern border

A pair of human smugglers were convicted this week in Minnesota, following the deaths of an Indian family, including two children, who froze during a blizzard in 2022 while attempting to illegally cross into the U.S. from Canada.

The jury in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, found Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, guilty on four counts, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally.

Patel is an Indian national and Shand is a U.S. citizen from Florida.

“This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said in a statement. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border.”

ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVIST EXPOSES HOW ‘SLAVE LEDGER’ IS BEING USED BY SMUGGLERS TO CONTROL MIGRANTS

The jury in Fergus Falls, Minn., found Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, guilty on four counts, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. (AP Photo)

Jagdish Patel, his wife, Vaishaliben, who were both in their 30s, and their children: daughter Vihangi, 11, and son Dharmik, 3, all froze to death in January 2022 while attempting to illegally cross into Minnesota via an operation coordinated by Harshkumar Patel and Shand. The family was not related to Harshkumar Patel.

“It’s pretty brutal,” juror Kevin Paul told reporters after the trial of the weather conditions where the family was trying to cross. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.”

The family was among 11 migrants in the same group who made the treacherous crossing to Minnesota that January. After only seven made it across, the family was found dead the next day by Canadian authorities.

“Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.”

VENEZUELAN GANG’S HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS SURGE IN TENNESSEE’S FOUR MAJOR CITIES

Road signage is posted just outside of Emerson, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prosecutors said Patel, who was also known as “Dirty Harry,” organized the scheme and Patel was the driver. Both men were involved in an international smuggling ring that help Indians illegally cross the border.

Another human smuggler, who was part of the ring, testified during the trial that he had made more than $400,000 smuggling more than 500 Indian migrants across the U.S. border and that the migrants usually work low-wage jobs in the U.S. to pay off their debts to the smugglers, which can be as much as $100,000.

Items found in a migrant child’s backpack. (U.S. Attorney’s Office via AP)

The pair could face up to 20 years in prison, depending on the prosecutors’ recommendation.

Shand’s defense team had claimed that he was an unwitting participant in the scheme, while Patel’s attorneys argued that the charges against him were a case of mistaken identity.

More than 14,000 Indian migrants were arrested at the Canadian border while attempting to cross into the U.S. illegally, in the year that ended on Sept. 30.

It accounted for 60% of arrests along the border and has increased 10-fold in the last two years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Detroit, MI

Water main break forces lane closures on Detroit’s east side

Published

1 hour ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Water main break forces lane closures on Detroit’s east side

Nick Lentz

Updated on: March 8, 2026 / 5:47 PM EDT
/ CBS Detroit

A water main break in Detroit Saturday night has forced lane closures on a road on the city’s east side, according to city officials.

The incident on East Jefferson Avenue near Burns Avenue was reported around 9 p.m. Officials said a 42-inch water main in the area ruptured.

“Crews responded immediately early Sunday morning to shut off the main and to begin preparing for repairs,” Detroit officials said in a news release.

All residents in the area should have service “due to redundancy in the water system,” according to officials. Anyone who doesn’t is asked to call the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department at 313-267-8000.

As of Sunday afternoon, the city has not issued a boil water advisory and says there are no issues with street flooding.

Repairs are expected to begin on Monday and officials estimate they will be completed “around the middle of the week.”

One lane in each direction of East Jefferson Avenue will remain open at and around the area of the break until repairs are done, and bike lanes at the repair location will be closed.

Officials are asking motorists who drive through the area to budget additional time for their commute or seek an alternate route until all lanes reopen.

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Milwaukee, WI

Black joins Giannis, KPJ as out, How To Watch Orlando Magic-Milwaukee Bucks Lineups, Injuries, Betting Lines & More

Published

2 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Black joins Giannis, KPJ as out, How To Watch Orlando Magic-Milwaukee Bucks Lineups, Injuries, Betting Lines & More

The Orlando Magic put together one of its strongest efforts of the season in Minnesota on Saturday, squashing one of the West’s best 119-92. They’ll look to continue a road win streak that began in L.A. with wins over the Clippers and Lakers.

Milwaukee also won on Saturday, pulling away from the Utah Jazz 113-99 to snap a two-game skid that coincided with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from a 14-game absence due to a calf injury.

Antetokounmpo’s presence was necessary deep into the fourth quarter due to the game being tight, so that prevents him from participating in this one. Kevin Porter Jr. is also out.

The Magic are even with the Miami Heat atop the Southeast Division, although they hold a tie-braker since they have defeated Miami all four times they’ve played. The Magic’s upset of Minnesota has pushed them up to sixth place in the East.

Orlando is 14-15 on the road 20-19 against Eastern Conference foes. Milwaukee is 15-16 at home and 19-23 against Eastern Conference competition.

Vitals – How to Watch Magic at Bucks

Game date, time and location: Sunday, March 8, 8:10 p.m. EST, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida (Magic), FanDuel Sports Wisconsin (Bucks)

Radio: FM 96.9 The Game/AM 740 WYGM (Magic), WTMJ (Bucks)

Magic look to extend road win streak to four by ending Bucks’ run

The Orlando Magic (34-28) visit the Milwaukee Bucks (27-35) in the third and final matchup between these teams this season.

The Magic last won a season series from Milwaukee in 2011-12, but have gone 14-35 since, which includes an upset loss (116-108) in the final game prior to the break. Cam Thomas, having just been signed after getting his release from the Brooklyn Nets, scored 34 points to complement a Kevin Porter Jr. triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists), so the Bucks are still in position to win this year’s series 2-1 if it can pull an upset on Sunday night.

The Bucks have opened up a 77-57 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1989-90. Milwaukee won the first nine matchups.

Betting Lines (via DraftKings)

Spread: Magic -6.5 (-112), Bucks +6.5 (-115)

Moneyline: Magic -218, Bucks +180

Total: 216.5 (Over -112, Under -108)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

PROJECTED STARTERS

MAGIC

F Tristan da Silva

F Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

G Jalen Suggs

G Desmond Bane

BUCKS

F Ousmane Dieng

F Pete Nance

C Myles Turner

G Ryan Rollins

G AJ Green

INJURY REPORT

MAGIC

Anthony Black: Out – Low Back Strain

Jonathan Isaac: Out – Left Knee Soreness

Franz Wagner: Out – Left High Ankle Sprain Injury Management

Jase Richardson: Out – Lower Back Spasms

Alex Morales: Out – G League (Two-way)

Colin Castleton: Out – G League (Two-way)

BUCKS

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Out – Right Calf Injury Management

Kevin Porter Jr.: Out – Right Knee Swelling

Kyle Kuzma: Out – Thoracic Spine Contusion

Taurean Prince: Out – Neck Surgery Recovery

Cormac Ryan: Out – G League (Two-way)

Alex Antetokounmpo: Out – G League (Two-way)

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Minneapolis, MN

Murder charges filed in 2020 shooting that took life of young mother

Published

2 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Murder charges filed in 2020 shooting that took life of young mother

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A man who admitted to firing the shots that killed an 18-year-old mother in south Minneapolis back in May 2020 is charged with murder.

The criminal complaint names Malcom Chan Johnson, 33, of Minneapolis, as a suspect in the fatal shooting after he told police he didn’t know there was a woman in the car he was shooting at.

The shooting claimed the life of Arionna Buckanaga, who was set to graduate high school a month after she was shot.

READ MORE: Vigil held for woman shot in vehicle in south Minneapolis

Man charged for 2020 shooting death of Arionna Buckanaga

Fatal shooting:

Court documents show the shooting happened near the intersection of 39th Street East and Cedar Avenue South in Minneapolis at about 11:25 p.m. on May 4, 2020.

Officers found Arionna in the driver’s seat of a crashed Ford Mustang, with a gunshot wound to her head. She died at the hospital days later.

Her boyfriend, who was a passenger in the Mustang, told police he did not know who shot at the vehicle.

Investigation:

The criminal complaint states officers found an abandoned Chevy Suburban with bullet holes in the hood about a mile-and-a-half away from the scene of the shooting. The bullet holes appeared to be consistent with the driver of the vehicle shooting over the hood and accidentally striking the vehicle.

Investigators also found 32 shell casings at the scene of the shooting. About two weeks later, police found two Glock 9mm handguns in a compost bin about eight blocks away from the shooting. Law enforcement officials determined the two guns fired the 32 shots.

DNA swabs taken from the Suburban were found to match Malcom Chan Johnson and another man, Namiri Tanner. Tests on the firearms also revealed a mixture of DNA that also matched Tanner.

Court documents say authorities then spoke to a witness on March 20, 2025, who told them Johnson confessed to the shooting and that Johnson had a “gang feud” with Arionna’s boyfriend.

Confession:

Police then spoke to Namiri Tanner, who is in a federal prison in Kentucky.

The complaint states Tanner confessed to shooting at the Mustang and from the passenger’s seat and said that Johnson was shooting from the driver’s seat, firing over the hood. Tanner added that the two men abandoned the Suburban and ditched the guns in a trash can.

Authorities then interviewed Johnson on March 4, 2026. He admitted driving the Suburban and firing one of the guns.

Johnson said he thought Arionna’s boyfriend was in the Mustang, but didn’t know she was as well, and said he did not mean to kill her, according to the complaint.

What we don’t know:

It’s unclear if Tanner will face charges in the case. Tanner is being held in federal prison on a drug case. However, it appears he is due to be released next month.

The Source: This story uses information from a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County Court and previous FOX 9 reporting.

Crime and Public SafetyMinneapolis

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