Brooklyn Man Sentenced for Illegal Transportation of Alien

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Myroslav Avram, age 46, of Brooklyn, New York, and a citizen of Ukraine, was sentenced yesterday to time served (65 days in jail), as well as a 2-year term of supervised release, for transporting another Ukrainian citizen who illegally crossed the border into the United States.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

Avram pled guilty on December 12, 2016 and admitted that on February 23, 2016, in Hogansburg, New York, he picked up a Ukrainian citizen who had crossed the border illegally from Canada.   Avram was driving the man to New York City when he was stopped and arrested by Border Patrol Agents near Clinton, New York. 

The smuggled alien, Petro Vasylyovy Lakusta, age 40, of Ukraine, was sentenced on March 1, 2016 to 23 days in jail and then placed into removal (deportation) proceedings. 

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.