Washington, July 24: A woman accused of helping organize a cross-border human smuggling operation that ended in the deaths of nine people, including members of families from India and Romania, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Stephanie Square, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and four counts of alien smuggling resulting in death.
Prosecutors describe Square, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen from the Akwesasne community, as the U.S.-based leader of a smuggling network that regularly transported migrants across the Canada–United States border through the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, which spans Ontario, Quebec and New York State.
The case stems from the tragic events of March 2023, when two families attempting to enter the United States by boat capsized while crossing the St. Lawrence River during severe weather.
All eight migrants and the man operating the boat lost their lives.
The victims included a Romanian family of four—Florin Iordache, 28, his wife Cristina (Monalisa) Zenaida Iordache, 28, and their young children Evelin, 2, and Elyen, 1. The children were Canadian citizens, and the family had been living in the Toronto area.
The other victims were members of the Chaudhari family from Gujarat, India: Praveenbhai Chaudhari, 50, Dakshaben Chaudhari, 45, their son Meet, 20, and daughter Vidhi, 23.
The ninth victim was Casey Oakes, the man alleged to have been piloting the vessel. His body was recovered several months later.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Square coordinated the movement of the Romanian family during the week of March 27, 2023, despite warnings from one associate who reportedly refused to participate because of dangerous weather conditions on the river.
Investigators allege that Square arranged transportation for the family to Cornwall Island, where they were taken to a residence used as a staging location before being driven to a public boat launch for the attempted crossing.
In announcing the guilty plea, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said human smugglers exploit vulnerable people seeking a better future while exposing them to significant danger.
He stated that the victims were directed to cross the river on a cold, windy night with limited visibility, circumstances that ultimately resulted in a preventable loss of life.
Square’s guilty plea relates only to the deaths of the Romanian family. She is scheduled to be sentenced on November 25 and faces a possible sentence ranging from five years to life imprisonment.
The Justice Department noted that five other individuals have previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the smuggling operation.
The case remains one of the deadliest known human smuggling tragedies along the Canada–U.S. border and has highlighted the risks faced by migrants who rely on criminal smuggling networks in attempts to cross international borders illegally.