FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — An Indian migrant who survived a deadly trek across the Canada-U.S.&nbsp;border&nbsp;in&nbsp;blizzard&nbsp;conditions is expected to testify Tuesday in the federal trial of two men accused of taking part in a sprawling human smuggling scheme that ultimately killed a family of four.

Prosecutors allege Indian national Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, put financial profit over human life when they attempted to smuggle Indian migrants across the&nbsp;border&nbsp;into Minnesota over a five-week period. They say Patel ran part of the smuggling scheme and recruited Shand as a driver. Both men have pleaded not guilty to four federal counts related to human smuggling.

Prosecutors say the family of four Indian migrants froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, after spending hours wandering in snow and bone-chilling cold{ai:summary}<p>An Indian migrant is set to testify in the trial of two men accused of a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of a family of four during a treacherous border crossing. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand face federal charges but have pleaded not guilty. </p><p>Prosecutors claim the defendants prioritized profit over safety in their smuggling efforts. #illegals</p>

Weather on day of family's deadly Canada-U.S. border crossing was unusually cold, trial hears

Loading...