A 42-year-old woman from New York has been charged with participating in an international human smuggling network that allegedly transported Indian nationals illegally into the United States through the Canadian border. The woman, identified as Stacey Taylor of Plattsburgh, appeared in court for arraignment earlier this week after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Albany in October.
According to court records, Taylor was first arrested in January when U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped her vehicle near Churubusco, New York, close to the Quebec border. Inside the vehicle were four foreign nationals — three Indian citizens and one Canadian — all of whom had crossed the border illegally without inspection. Investigators said Taylor’s cellphone contained text messages indicating she had assisted in similar crossings on multiple occasions.
Taylor has now been charged with conspiring to engage in alien smuggling and four separate counts of smuggling individuals for profit. Prosecutors noted that three of the charges are considered second or subsequent offenses, which carry enhanced penalties.
If convicted, Taylor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison for each smuggling-for-profit count, with the potential for additional time due to the repeat nature of the offenses. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti said the case highlights the Justice Department’s continued efforts to dismantle organised smuggling operations that exploit vulnerable migrants and undermine border security.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify others who may be involved in the smuggling network.
