⏱ 2 min read
On September 8, 2024, nine Irish citizens illegally crossed into the US in Richford, Vermont, near the Canadian border. Tyshan Murray, a 44-year-old New Jersey man, picked up the group, including five adults and four children, and was subsequently stopped by US Border Patrol Agents. Murray’s reckless actions put the lives of the unrestrained children at risk. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully transporting aliens and was sentenced on May 7, 2026.
Murray’s SUV was stopped by Border Patrol Agents after they were alerted to the unlawful crossing. During the traffic stop, agents found three adults and three children in the rear seats, and two additional children in the rear cargo compartment. The government requested a 33-month sentence, citing Murray’s extensive criminal history and the endangerment of the children.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Andrew C. Gilman, and Murray was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson. First Assistant US Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the US Border Patrol, stating that alien smuggling creates significant national security risks and endangers lives.
Murray’s sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat alien smuggling and other crimes.
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- Jhon Reina-Perez, Human Smuggling, Vermont 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Letitia James, Tax Evasion, New York 2023 · Maryland
- Randy McEntee, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Mentally Defective Person, Vermont 2016 · Texas
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Human Trafficking
- Defendant: Vermont
- Location: VT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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