Jury Finds Truck Driver Guilty Of Alien Smuggling

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Yesterday a jury found Ergys Metashi, 34, of Ontario, Canada, guilty of bringing an alien to the United States for the purpose of financial gain, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, Homeland Security Investigations, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas DiNicola, and Timothy J. Walker, Area Port Director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Area Port of Alexandria Bay.

Ergys Metashi, a commercial truck driver originally from Albania who lives and works in Canada, was charged with bringing an alien to the United States from Canada at the Alexandria Bay Port of Entry, New York, on March 31, 2015. The evidence at trial showed that Metashi agreed to smuggle the alien, a fellow Albanian, into the United States by hiding him in the sleeping compartment of a tractor trailer in exchange for the promise of a payment of several thousand American dollars. During a border inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers found the alien hiding under a blanket in the truck and arrested Metashi.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and it was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael F. Perry.

Ergys Metashi will be sentenced in federal court in Syracuse on November 16, 2015 and faces at least three (3) years and up to ten (10) years in prison followed by a three (3) year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

For additional information, please contact Assistant United States Attorney Michael Perry at 315-448-0672.