Jury Convicts Queens Man of Transporting Aliens

ALBANY, NEW YORK – A jury voted today to convict Harpushpinder Singh, age 46, of Queens, New York, of transporting aliens in the United States.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and John C. Pfeifer, U.S. Border Patrol’s Chief Patrol Agent for the Swanton Sector.

The jury reached its verdict after a 3-day trial.  The evidence at trial demonstrated that Singh transported two Indian nationals, knowing they were in the country illegally.  On June 12, 2016, he transported them from Champlain, New York, to North Hudson, New York, where he was detained by Border Patrol at an immigration checkpoint off the New York State Northway.

Singh faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on March 14, 2017 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.