In Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, two men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a human smuggling network that led to the deaths of an Indian family in January 2022. Harshkumar Patel, identified as the ringleader, received a 10-year sentence, while Steve Shand, the driver, was sentenced to six and a half years, followed by two years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim presided over the sentencing.

The case stems from a tragic incident on January 19, 2022, when Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishaliben, 37, their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi, and their 3-year-old son Dharmik, froze to death near the U.S.-Canada border. The family, originally from the village of Dingucha in Gujarat, India, was attempting to enter the United States from Canada during a severe blizzard with temperatures plummeting to -33 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prosecutors argued that Patel and Shand placed profit over human lives by orchestrating the family's illegal crossing and failing to provide adequate assistance in the face of life-threatening conditions. Patel, allegedly known as "Dirty Harry," organized a large-scale operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on student visas and then smuggled them south across the border. Shand, a U.S. citizen from Florida, was tasked with picking up the migrants after they crossed the border and transporting them to Chicago.

On that fateful night, Shand was apprehended in a van near the border with two migrants inside. Soon after, authorities encountered five more migrants, one suffering from severe frostbite. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovered the bodies of the Patel family just north of the Manitoba-Minnesota border. Prosecutors maintained that the family's deaths might have been prevented had Shand not denied the presence of other migrants to authorities.

In November 2024, a federal jury convicted Patel and Shand on multiple charges, including conspiracy to bring non-citizens to the United States, causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. Judge Tunheim, in declining to set aside the guilty verdicts, asserted that "This was not a close case."

During the sentencing hearing, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick argued that the defendants exploited the family's hopes for a better life, prioritizing financial gain over their safety. Federal prosecutors had sought nearly 20 years for Patel and almost 11 years for Shand. Judge Tunheim acknowledged that the deaths were "clearly avoidable."

Patel's attorney argued that the evidence against him was insufficient and requested a government-appointed lawyer for his planned appeal, claiming he has no income or assets. Shand's lawyer requested a reduced sentence of 27 months, portraying his client as a minor player who was merely trying to support his family. Judge Tunheim recommended that Shand serve his sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, to be closer to his family. Patel is likely to be deported to India after completing his sentence.