FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — In a trial unfolding in Fergus Falls, an Indian national recounted his harrowing experience crossing the U.S.-Canada border under extreme weather conditions, during which he became separated from a family of four who tragically died from exposure. Yash Patel took the witness stand on the third day of proceedings against Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, both accused of trafficking Indian nationals across the border in December 2021 and January 2022 for profit.
Federal prosecutors assert that the defendants prioritized financial gain over human life, directly resulting in the fatalities of the family that included 39-year-old Jagdish Patel, his mid-30s wife Vaishaliben, their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi, and their 3-year-old son Dharmik, who all succumbed to the cold on January 19, 2022. It is important to clarify that while the victims shared the same last name as Harshkumar Patel, the two were not related in any way.
Yash Patel, aged 23, testified through an interpreter, revealing that after getting separated from the family, he walked alone in the bleak conditions for over five hours before finding a van that was reportedly driven by Steve Shand. Witnesses for the prosecution described the weather during the family’s attempted crossing as treacherous, with severe snow and winds accompanying wind chills that plummeted to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The desolate rural landscape near the border provided scant protection against such harsh elements.
“It was snowing and it was very windy,” Yash Patel recounted on the witness stand, expressing his fear and desperation for help during that ordeal. While Shand’s defense team argues that their client was misled by Harshkumar Patel and did not knowingly engage in human trafficking, they claim he believed he was simply hired for legitimate work as a taxi driver, a common tactic used in smuggling operations to deceive participants.
The defense for Harshkumar Patel has countered that Shand’s argument casts undue blame and prejudice onto their client, maintaining that Patel sought to escape poverty in India and improve his circumstances, only to find himself wrongfully accused of serious offenses.
Yash Patel’s journey into the U.S. began in December 2021 when he arrived in Toronto, Canada. He was subsequently moved between cities including Vancouver and Winnipeg, before being transported with other Indian nationals in a van to the border. When their vehicle became stuck, the group was instructed to exit and walk in a straight line until they encountered another vehicle.
Unfortunately, Yash got separated from his companions, enduring the chilling conditions alone. After hours of struggling through the snow, he eventually encountered a van, identified by prosecutors as being operated by Shand. Following this, a U.S. Border Patrol agent apprehended the van and detained both Shand and Yash Patel alongside another passenger.
Federal authorities allege that Harshkumar Patel and Shand were part of an extensive international smuggling operation. The court has also seen testimony from Rajinder Singh, a convicted smuggler corroborating the existence of this network, who claimed to have facilitated the illegal transport of over 500 Indian migrants across the border over four years, earning upwards of $400,000 from these activities.