Related Federal Cases
- Ex-CEO Behind $100M Ponzi Scam Sentenced to 20 Years · New York
- River Valley Estates Slapped with Lawsuit Over Unsafe Living Conditions & Rent Hikes · New York
- Sununu Declares War on Trump’s GOP Grip · New Hampshire
- Wall Street Bailout: NY & CA Lose $2 Trillion · North Carolina
- “K Money” Crumbles: Wall St. Pretender Admits $2M Scam · New York
Grimy Times Exclusive: Smuggler Oakes Linked to Family’s River Death
MASSENA, NY – A chilling tale of greed and callous disregard for human life has unfolded at the U.S.-Canada border. Timothy Oakes, 34, of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation, Canada, was arrested Sunday, June 15, and remains detained, facing federal charges for his central role in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy. The operation culminated in the tragic deaths of a Romanian family of four – including two children under the age of three – who perished in the frigid waters of the St. Lawrence River.
Oakes was apprehended attempting to enter the United States via the Massena, New York, Port of Entry. He has been indicted on April 9 on multiple counts, including conspiring to engage in alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for profit, and four counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. Court documents reveal Oakes acted as a key facilitator for a transnational criminal organization, routinely piloting boats across the St. Lawrence River to ferry undocumented migrants into northern New York. For each soul he smuggled, Oakes allegedly pocketed around $1,000. His home served as a staging area for those desperate enough to risk the perilous journey.
The Romanian family, housed by Oakes for approximately 24 hours in March 2023, were part of a larger group. Oakes transported them, along with a boat, to a public launch, where his brother, Casey Oakes, attempted to navigate them across the river. The attempt failed catastrophically. The family drowned, their hopes for a better life extinguished by the cold current and the reckless actions of those exploiting their vulnerability. Casey Oakes’ involvement adds another layer of tragedy to an already horrific incident.
“As alleged, Oakes and his co-conspirators profited from a human smuggling operation with a singular, cold-hearted aim: making money by bringing illegal aliens into the United States, regardless of the danger to human life involved,” stated Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their greed resulted in the deaths of a mother, a father, and two small children, as well as one of the defendants’ own brothers.” U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York echoed the sentiment, calling the case a stark illustration of the dangers of illegal border crossings.
Oakes isn’t acting alone. Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne-Mohawk, New York, and Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, New York, have already pleaded guilty to their involvement in the conspiracy on Jan. 23, Oct. 8, 2024, and March 6, respectively. Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI Buffalo, emphasized the ongoing investigation into the broader transnational criminal organization responsible for the large-scale smuggling operation. “ICE HSI leverages its full range of authorities to combat and dismantle the heinous networks of greedy criminals who illicitly sell dangerous, sometimes fatal, passage through our nation’s northern border,” Keegan stated.
Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector minced no words: “Two toddler aged children and their parents were the tragic victims of an alien smuggling attempt gone horribly wrong. Their deaths were a direct result of callous smugglers who exploited the vulnerable.” The investigation, a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies under the Joint Task Force Alpha and the Border Enforcement Security Taskforce, continues. If convicted on all counts, Oakes faces a potential life sentence, a grim reckoning for a scheme built on desperation and fueled by profit.
RELATED: Hernandez, Oakes Plead Guilty to Meth Trafficking in OK
RELATED: Jake Patnode Charged in 110-Pound Cocaine Bust on I-81
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
