Indian-Origin Man Arrested in Human Smuggling Case Linked to Family's Death

Harshkumar Patel, known as 'Dirty Harry', faces charges after a family of four perished near the U.S.-Canada border.

Harshkumar Patel, also known as 'Dirty Harry', was arrested in Chicago for his involvement in a human smuggling operation that led to the death of a family of four Indian nationals.
Patel is accused of recruiting Steve Shand to transport migrants across the U.S.-Canada border, resulting in the tragic death of the Patel family due to exposure to extreme weather conditions.
Court documents reveal that Patel and Shand communicated about arrangements for the smuggling operation, including rental cars, hotels, and ensuring migrants were dressed for blizzard conditions.
The Patel family, who died near the border, had paid approximately $87,000 to an organization in India for their attempted migration to the U.S.
Federal authorities believe Patel entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 after being denied a visa multiple times and operates a gambling business in Florida.