Washington, Jan 30 (NationPress) A federal grand jury in upstate New York has charged a 22-year-old individual with allegedly orchestrating a human smuggling ring that facilitated the illegal crossing of migrants from Canada into the United States via the northern border, according to US authorities.

The indictment, issued on January 28 in the Northern District of New York, accuses Shivam Lnu of managing smuggling activities between January and June 2025, as stated by the Justice Department.

Federal prosecutors claim that Shivam organized the unlawful transportation of individuals across the US-Canada border into New York. He is said to have employed several drivers and vehicles while utilizing messaging applications to oversee the smuggling operation.

According to the Department of Justice, the case partially arises from a January 26, 2025, incident at the border, when US Border Patrol agents attempted to intercept two vehicles traveling closely together. Both vehicles sped away to evade capture, leading to a chase.

One vehicle veered off the road and became stuck, while the other was later apprehended in Mooers, New York, as documented in court records. Agents found a total of 12 undocumented migrants inside the two vehicles.

Investigators revealed that WhatsApp communications between one of the drivers and a phone number associated with Shivam displayed coordination of smuggling activities multiple times before and in January 2025. The messages reportedly included ‘proof of life’ photos of migrants and guidance to safe houses in upstate New York.

The indictment states that Shivam is an Indian national facing one count of conspiracy to illegally transport aliens into the United States and four counts of illegally bringing aliens into the country for personal financial gain.

If found guilty, he could face a maximum of 10 years in prison for each charge. A conviction on all four counts related to smuggling for profit carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 15 years, according to prosecutors.

Shivam was initially charged through a criminal complaint on June 13, 2025, with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens, authorities stated.

This announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York, and Erin Keegan, special agent in charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.

An indictment is simply an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.