A dual Canadian-American citizen faces a potential life sentence after pleading guilty on Monday to his role in a human smuggling operation that ended in the deaths of a Romanian family, including two toddlers. Timothy Oakes, 35, admitted to federal charges in a scheme that moved migrants across the treacherous waters of the St. Lawrence River from Canada into northern New York.
Court records detail a sophisticated “human smuggling organization” operating out of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory.
Oakes acted as a key facilitator, using his home on Cornwall Island as a staging point and charging roughly $1,000 per person for the illegal transit. The operation typically moved migrants from countries like Romania and India through local motels before shuttling them across the water under the cover of night.
The conspiracy turned fatal on the evening of March 29, 2023. Despite freezing temperatures, high winds, and poor visibility, Oakes moved a family of four Romanian nationals to a public boat launch on Cornwall Island.
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There, he handed off his vessel and the family to his brother, Casey Oakes. The boat capsized shortly after departure. The entire family, along with Casey Oakes, died in the river.
Prosecutors noted that the group pushed forward with the crossing even though members of the organization were fully aware of the life-threatening weather conditions. Timothy Oakes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, as well as multiple counts of smuggling for financial gain and smuggling resulting in death.
This case follows an extensive multi-agency investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and a dozen other local, state, and international law enforcement bodies across the U.S. and Canada. Several co-conspirators, including Dakota Montour and Janet Terrance, have already entered guilty pleas.
Two other associates, Stephanie Square and Rahsontanohstha Delormier, were extradited from Canada last year and are currently awaiting trial.
Oakes is scheduled for sentencing on September 11. While he faces a mandatory minimum of five years, the severity of the charges—specifically those involving the loss of life—could result in a life term. A federal district court judge will make the final determination based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
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