Jody Lynn McGuire, Human Trafficking, Vermont 2025

Five people have been charged with immigration offenses in Vermont, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. The charges include human trafficking and illegal entry into the United States.

One of the defendants, Jody Lynn McGuire, 52, of Plattsburgh, New York, and Tyler Kenneth George Leavine, 34, of Dannemora, New York, have been charged by criminal complaint with illegally transporting Sandeep Chawla, 34, Jay Sisodiya Kumar, 27, and Chintan Patel, 29, all citizens of India, within the United States.

The three Indian nationals, Chawla, Kumar, and Patel, were also charged with illegally entering the United States at a place not designated by immigration officers.

On March 26, 2025, Leavine and McGuire appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Neidermeier, who ordered them to be detained during the pendency of their prosecution. During their initial court appearances yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Neidermeier in Burlington, Chawla, Kumar, and Patel all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to time-served.

According to court records, in the early morning hours of March 26, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol received a tip that there would be a smuggling attempt in the area of Hunter Road North in Alburgh, Vermont. Border Patrol agents responded to the area and observed a vehicle with a NY registration driving slowly up the road. A camera operated by Border Patrol then observed several subjects running to the vehicle, which had stopped in a corner of a gas station parking lot. Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle and found McGuire and Leavine in the front seat, and Chawla, Kumar, and Patel in the back.

Chawla, Kumar, and Patel identified themselves as citizens of India. A review of DHS databases returned no documents or authorizations that would allow Chawla, Kumar, and Patel to have legally entered or remained in the United States. McGuire and Leavine later told agents that they had been paid to drive to pick up people.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaints contain allegations only and that Leavine and McGuire are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. McGuire and Leavine face up to five years in prison and/or up to a $250,000 fine or both, if convicted.

The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Wendy L. Fuller.