U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the sentencing of Silvestre German Andujar, a 53-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Hamilton, Ontario. Andujar was convicted of alien smuggling for commercial advantage and private financial gain and received a 36-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeve E. Huggins and Paul E. Bonanno provided details of the case, noting that on January 3, 2024, Andujar and three others, none of whom were U.S. citizens or nationals, traveled on a motorized raft across the Niagara River from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada to the United States-Canada border. As they disembarked from the vessel, U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrived at the scene, causing them to flee.
Simultaneously, law enforcement observed co-defendant Luis Davis German Soriano driving in Youngstown, NY near the landing site to pick up Andujar and his companions. Soriano had driven from New Jersey to meet them but provided conflicting information about his travel purpose during a traffic stop by officers before being released.
The following day, on January 4, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol Agents stationed near Blairville Road in Youngstown spotted Soriano’s van containing Andujar and three passengers. The van was stopped on Youngstown-Lockport Road in Ransomville, NY where all occupants were arrested after immigration records checks.
Luis Davis German Soriano had previously been convicted and sentenced for his involvement.
The investigation leading to this sentencing was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan’s direction; U.S. Border Patrol under Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs’ leadership; and Lewiston Police Department led by Chief Frank Previte.
