Jury Convicts Russian National of Alien Smuggling

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A jury voted today to convict Nikolay Souslov, a/k/a Nikolay Glukhov, a/k/a Nikolai Kuznetsov, a/k/a Nikolai Burov, age 70, and a citizen of Russia, of alien smuggling, following a four-day trial.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer, Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

Souslov faces up to 10 years in prison, as well as post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years, when he is sentenced on October 4, 2017 by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. 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. Souslov has been in custody since his arrest.

The evidence at trial showed that between 2013 and October 19, 2016, Souslov smuggled people into the United States by walking them through the woods from Canada at nighttime. Souslov, who is experienced in orienteering, used only a compass to guide the illegal entrants through the woods to a pickup spot, from which they were transported to New Jersey. On October 19, 2016, Border Patrol arrested Souslov as he was leading someone into the United States. While convicting Souslov of alien smuggling, the jury acquitted him of smuggling for financial gain.

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