FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (Valley News Live) – Two men appeared in federal court in Fergus Falls on Thursday for pre-trial conferences. This comes ahead of their hearing in the human trafficking case next week.

An immigrant family from India crossed the Manitoba-US border in January 2022 and arrived in St. Vincent moved on to Minnesota. An 11-year-old and a 3-year-old were found frozen to death in a snowbank. Court records say seven other people were nearby.

Steve Shand and Harsh-Kumar Patel are accused of organizing the human smuggling operation that brought Indian citizens to Canada on student visas and then smuggled them across the border. Shand was allegedly hired to pick up immigrants after they crossed the border and bring them to Chicago.

Court documents say one migrant told authorities his group had been walking for about 12 hours. The Patal family of four, who are not related to Harsh-Kumar Patel, left the group. In the images, some children’s clothes, toys and blankets are also seen, as well as the boots given to the immigrants to wear on the January morning.

Patel’s father was still holding his son wrapped in a blanket when the bodies were found.

Court records also record a conversation between Shand and another party who said things like “it’s 16 degrees out” and asked “will they be alive when they get here?” Text messages asking: are also mentioned.

Jury selection will begin Monday morning and is expected to last five days. Valley News Live will bring you news throughout the week.

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