Akwesasne Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Six Aliens

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shane Barnes, age 38, of Akwesasne, New York, pled guilty today to transporting six aliens.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Barnes admitted that on September 28, 2022, he drove a pickup truck to the riverbank of the U.S. side of the St. Regis River.  Shortly after arriving at the riverbank, six aliens emerged from the woods and got into the pickup truck.  The defendant then drove the aliens to Hogansburg, NY, and then to Bombay, NY.  The defendant further admitted that he expected to be paid for transporting the aliens.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2024, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, New York.  Barnes faces up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.