NY Man Indicted For Smuggling Humans From Canada To Pittsburg, NH

By Nancy West, InDepth NH

CONCORD, NH — A Brooklyn, N.Y. man was indicted in connection with smuggling unauthorized immigrants across the Canadian border into Pittsburg last month, according to a news release issued by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.

Abraham Hernandez, 27, was indicted on three counts of bringing in and harboring certain aliens. Hernandez will appear in federal court in Concord at a later date.

According to the charging documents, on June 13, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the U.S. Border Patrol that individuals with backpacks were walking southbound from Canada toward Halls Stream Road in Pittsburg, N.H. Hernandez was later stopped by law enforcement in Pittsburg, N.H. while transporting nine unauthorized immigrants in a white Honda SUV.

Border Patrol Agent John P. Marquissee, is currently assigned as an Intelligence Agentin the Beecher Falls Station of the Swanton Sector, located in Canaan, Vermont.

The tip came from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Marquissee wrote in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Concord.

“Specifically, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police advised dispatch that they observed 10subjects with backpacks walking southbound from Canada towards Halls Stream Road in Pittsburg, N.H. Based on number of subjects, their backpacks, the area, and time of the notification, it seemed probable to responding agents that the individuals were going to illegally enter the United States through the woods near Pittsburg, N.H.,” Marquissee wrote.

In that area, Halls Stream Road is a north-south road that parallels the International Boundary between the United States and Canada for approximately 9 miles.

“The International boundary is mere feet from the road in some areas. I am aware that this area has historically been exploited by Transnational Criminal Organizations (“TCOs”) to smuggle contraband into the United States illegally,” he wrote.

Marquissee said agents assigned to the Beecher Falls Station are aware that the Halls Stream Road area has been used by suspected illegal aliens to cross into the United States in the recent weeks on at least two nighttime occasions.

“At approximately 10:37 p.m. on June 13, 2023, a concerned citizen who lives on Halls Stream Road contacted agents and stated that a white Sports Utility Vehicle was parked in his driveway and when he turned on his porch lights and the vehicle left the area at a high rate of speed.

“This residence is at the end of the public roadway portion of Halls Stream Road at a gate. Camp owners must input a code to open the gate and continue into the gated area. The area is sparsely populated and it is uncommon for vehicles to travel to this location if they are not residents, especially at night,” he wrote.

Border Patrol Agent Dustin Norsworthy had previously seen a white colored SUV drivenorthbound on Halls Stream Road at approximately 9:30 p.m. on June 13.

At about 10:57 p.m., Norsworthy observed a white SUV exiting Halls Stream Road, theaffidavit said.

“BPA Norsworthy followed the vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speedand which appeared to be loaded with weight over its passenger capacity and wasleaning to one side.

“BPA Norsworthy activated his lights and sirens and performed a vehicle stop nearthe intersection of US-3 and Bishop Brook Road in Pittsburg, N.H. The white Honda CRV, a 5-passenger small SUV, yielded,” the affidavit said.

Norsworthy approached the Honda CRV and observed people in the trunk and back seat area who appeared to be hiding their heads.

The agent asked the subjects in the back where they were born and eight stated Mexico and one stated Guatemala. Each subject stated they did not possess proper immigration documents to be in or remain in the United States legally, the affidavit said.

“All subjects, including the driver of the suspect vehicle, were arrested andtransported to the Beecher Falls Border Patrol Station for processing and/orfurther investigation,” the affidavit said.

The charge of bringing in and harboring certain aliens provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Border Patrol led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney GeoffreyWard is prosecuting the case.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.