Woman Pleads to Transporting Two Illegal Aliens

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ruth Smoke, 29, of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, pled guilty today to transporting two illegal aliens for profit, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2016 in Syracuse, New York

On December 2, 2015 Ruth Smoke was stopped by New York State Police south of Watertown, New York with two passengers in her vehicle. Subsequent investigation by U.S. Border Patrol Agents revealed that the two passengers were illegal aliens from China who were smuggled into the United States from Canada across the St. Lawrence River earlier in the day. The illegal aliens told Border Patrol Agents that they were to pay $400.00 upon arriving in New York City. As part of her plea of guilty today, Ruth Smoke admitted she was transporting the two illegal aliens in return for a fee.

The charge carries with it a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and a three year term of supervised release. 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 (Wellesley Island Station) and the New York State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.