Man Sentenced to Five Months in US Jail for Transporting People Across Border from British Columbia

The U.S. District Attorney’s office in Seattle announces that a 27-year-old man has been sentenced to five months in jail for assisting in the smuggling of eight Indian nationals across the border between British Columbia and Washington state.

Rajat Rajat, an Indian citizen residing in California, was charged alongside three other individuals.

The group was involved in at least two smuggling attempts in late 2023, which included eight Indian citizens.

According to a statement from the office, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin acknowledged that Rajat played a crucial role in the smuggling conspiracy by organizing travel arrangements and paying co-conspirators.

Rajat received a five-month sentence, while two other defendants received four and six-month jail terms. A female defendant, who is in the country on a student visa, is set to face trial in January.

Judge Lin also ordered Rajat to serve three years of supervised release following his jail term, with expectations of deportation thereafter.

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Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller described Rajat as a “mid-level manager of this smuggling scheme,” assisting non-citizens in crossing the border and covering some travel expenses.

In their request for jail time, the prosecution informed the court that this was a coordinated, transnational operation that had been active over an extended period.

“Mr. Rajat’s involvement was far from minor, but rather crucial to the scheme’s functioning,” the statement remarked.

“He actively promoted the scheme by purchasing flights for his ‘customers’ and communicating directly with them, advising non-citizens on surreptitious entry into the United States,” it added.

The statement mentions that in November 2023, surveillance footage captured multiple individuals scaling a fence near Peace Arch Park between Surrey, B.C., and Blaine, Wash.

Border Patrol agents intercepted five individuals as they attempted to flee to a white minivan, leading to their apprehension.

It was discovered that five Indian nationals were concealed inside the van.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Rajat had demanded payments from non-citizens in exchange for their smuggling into the U.S., the statement disclosed.

The following month, Rajat met three Indian citizens at Peace Arch Park and directed them to enter a vehicle parked near the border.

Subsequently, the vehicle was stopped, and the non-citizens confessed to offering monetary payments for their illegal entry into the U.S.

Rajat was later picked up in the vicinity of the border.