Today is Sentencing Day for Men Convicted in Freezing Deaths of Family from India

Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel. (Facebook, Sherburne County Sheriff)

Fergus Falls, MN – Two men are being sentenced in federal court in Fergus Falls this afternoon for their roles in the deaths of a family from India along the Canadian border.

Harshkumar Patel from India and Steve Shand of Florida were convicted on human smuggling charges after the family of four froze to death in January 2022 trying to cross the US border in a blizzard. Prosecutors said Patel was the leader of the human smuggling conspiracy and Shand was the driver who was supposed to pick the family up. The bodies of the four victims were found by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Patel will be sentenced at 1 p.m. and Shand will be sentenced at 2 p.m. Law Enforcement will be delivering statements following this afternoon’s hearings.