Two men from Hogansburg, New York, Joseph Coffey, 35, and Darren Cook, 32, face charges of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit the same following an indictment announced by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia. Last month, the pair allegedly conspired with a Canadian organization to smuggle three foreigners across the St. Lawrence River into the United States. According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Coffey and Cook are accused of seeking profit from these illegal crossings, one involving two Chinese nationals and another a United Kingdom citizen.
The charges currently faced by these two men remain mere accusations, with a presumption of innocence provided until proven guilty by the court. Coffey and Cook are slated to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro, following an order for their detention that left both men in custody. "As alleged, Coffey and Cook, through their own greed to make a quick dollar, furthered the interests of dangerous alien smuggling organizations that put the people of our country in danger," Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated in the press release, highlighting the misuse of the Akwesasne Reservation as a conduit for such illicit activities.
The smuggling of persons across the border is not only illegal, but it also endangers the lives involved. Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia emphasized the resolve of the Border Patrol to combat such operations. "Human smuggling is a dangerous and exploitative enterprise that preys on vulnerable individuals, placing them in harm's way for the sole purpose of profit," he told the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In terms of penalties, allegations of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling can carry severe consequences, including a mandatory minimum of five years to a maximum of 15 years imprisonment. Sentencing is to the discretion of the presiding judge, influenced by the statutes violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are leading the investigation of this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt heading the prosecution.
