A dual Canadian-American citizen, Timothy Oakes, was arrested on June 15 for his involvement in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of a family of four in the St. Lawrence River. The arrest took place as Oakes attempted to enter the United States through the Massena, New York, Port of Entry.
Oakes, 34, from the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation in Canada, had been previously arraigned on several human smuggling charges in the Northern District of New York District Court. He will remain detained following his detention hearing. Oakes was indicted on April 9 for conspiring to engage in alien smuggling and faces additional charges related to alien smuggling for profit and resulting in death. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, and Janet Terrance have already entered guilty pleas.
Matthew R. Galeotti from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division commented on the case: “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.”
U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York emphasized the dangers associated with illegal border crossings: “Four family members died because a smuggling network put them in harm’s way.”
Erin Keegan from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Buffalo highlighted their ongoing investigation: “Oakes’ arrest comes as part of our nearly two-year long investigation into a transnational criminal organization responsible for large-scale smuggling.”
Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector noted: “Two toddler aged children and their parents were tragic victims… Our pursuit of justice persists until justice is served.”
Court documents reveal that Oakes played a significant role in facilitating human smuggling operations across the St. Lawrence River using boats and staging areas at his home.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including HSI Massena, U.S. Border Patrol, CBP, and others across both sides of the border.
This effort is part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which targets cartels and transnational criminal organizations affecting public safety and border security.
Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt are prosecuting this case under Operation Take Back America.
