A man from Akwesasne has admitted his role in a deadly human smuggling operation connected to the deaths of nine migrants in the St. Lawrence River near the Canada-U.S. border.
Thirty-five-year-old Timothy Oakes pleaded guilty in the United States to several charges tied to a cross-border smuggling conspiracy that ended in tragedy during March 2023. The victims included a Romanian family with two young children and four Indian nationals whose bodies were recovered after a boat capsized during severe weather conditions.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Oakes played a central role in transporting migrants from Canada into northern New York through the St. Lawrence River route. Authorities revealed that he frequently used his residence on Cornwall Island, Ontario, as a temporary shelter for migrants before arranging illegal crossings by boat. Investigators stated that he earned nearly $1,000 for every person moved across the border.
The smuggling organization reportedly targeted migrants from countries including Romania and India. Many migrants stayed in hotels in Cornwall before being transported to the border region inside the Haudenosaunee territory of Akwesasne. From there, smugglers allegedly used boats to move migrants across the river before handing them over to drivers waiting in New York State.
Court documents revealed that on March 29, 2023, Timothy Oakes transported a Romanian family to a public boat launch on Cornwall Island before leaving them with his brother, Casey Oakes, for the river crossing. However, the boat overturned during dangerous weather marked by strong winds and freezing temperatures. Casey Oakes and all eight migrants died in the disaster.
Prosecutors stated that Timothy Oakes continued the smuggling attempt despite knowing the river conditions posed serious risks. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, multiple counts of smuggling for financial gain, and charges linked to the deaths of migrants.
The accused is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 11 and could face life imprisonment. Authorities also confirmed that several other suspects connected to the smuggling ring have already pleaded guilty, while additional individuals extradited from Canada remain awaiting trial in the United States.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE