Two accused of human smuggling near Massena

MASSENA, New York (WWNY) – Two men accused of human smuggling were caught after their boat broke down on the St. Lawrence River last week.

According to federal court documents, Border Patrol agents at Station Massena responded to a 911 call last Tuesday evening and found four people on the shore of Long Sault Island.

When asked about their citizenship, two people allegedly replied that they were from the United Kingdom but did not have legal documents allowing them to stay in the United States. They allegedly told agents they had been picked up by the other two men on the coast of Canada.

These other men are identified as Brian Deshane and Corbey Terrance (no age or address available).

Agents said Deshane and Terrance told them that, at the direction of an unknown co-conspirator, they worked together to round up the undocumented men on the shores of Hoople Island, which is north of the international border in Canada, and bring them to the Massena pick-up boat dock where a ground transporter was waiting for them.

Terrance allegedly stated that this was the fifth time he had picked up people from Hoople Island and brought them to the Massena Inlet for the co-conspirator.

Agents claim Terrance told them he received 500.5 grams of fentanyl for each trip.

According to agents, Deshane stated that this was the second time he had picked up people from Hoople Island and taken them to the Massena Inlet for the co-conspirator. Deshane allegedly said he was paid for each narcotics trip and was paid to work on the boats for the smuggling events.

All four men were arrested and processed at the Massena border patrol station.

Deshane and Terrance are facing federal charges.

Copyright 2024 WWNY. All rights reserved.