Thread: GPS mishap lands illegal immigrant smuggler at Canadian border, in hands of authoriti

GPS mishap lands illegal immigrant smuggler at Canadian border, in hands of authorities

Updated: Tuesday, 03 Apr 2012, 7:40 AM PDT
Published : Tuesday, 03 Apr 2012, 8:41 AM PDT

A Mississippi man has pleaded guilty to transporting illegal immigrants from Texas to northern New York, where he was arrested after mistakenly trying to enter Canada.

The Watertown Daily Times reported that 34-year-old Jason Lindsey of Biloxi pleaded guilty last Friday in federal court in Syracuse.

According to federal prosecutors, Lindsey was working for a carpet business in Gulfport, Miss., last October when he drove to Houston to pick up three illegal immigrants from Mexico. Authorities say his boss told him to deliver the men to Fort Covington, on the Canadian border in Franklin County.

Officials said Lindsey's global positioning system -- or GPS -- took him to the Canadian border at Alexandria Bay in Jefferson County, 85 miles west of Fort Covington. The complaint states that "Lindsey did not intend to go to Canada, but the GPS led them there," according to the newspaper.

After being refused entry to Canada, he was returned to U.S. Customs officials.

Lindsey reportedly admitted in court Friday that he was paid to transport the illegal immigrants. He said he knew the men were in the country illegally.

The newspaper reports that Lindsey faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine at his Aug. 1 sentencing.

One Old Vet

GPS mishap lands illegal immigrant smuggler at Canadian border, in hands of authorities

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Mississippi man admits transporting aliens at Alexandria Bay

By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012

ALEXANDRIA BAY — A Mississippi man who mistakenly wound up at the Canadian border while trying to take illegal aliens from Texas to Fort Covington pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to a charge of transporting aliens.

Jason Lindsey, 34, Biloxi, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine at his Aug. 1 sentencing in U.S. District Court, Syracuse.

According to a criminal complaint filed with the court, Mr. Lindsey’s boss at a carpet business in Gulfport, Miss., instructed him on Oct. 5 to pick up $2,400 in cash from an unidentified male and send it to a man in Mexico. A day later, he was told to pick up $1,200 from the man and send it to someone in Rio Grande, Texas.

On Oct. 9, Mr. Lindsey was given $5,500 from the man and was told to drive to Houston to pick up three illegal aliens from Mexico. The money was to be given to “coyotes” who had smuggled the men into the United States. He returned with the men to Gulfport before traveling to New York on Oct. 15. The next day, he stopped at Walmart in Watertown to buy his passengers soap and shampoo, according to the complaint. Mr. Lindsey was then told by his boss that he was to travel with the men to an address in Fort Covington.

However, according to the complaint, Mr. Lindsey’s global satellite positioning system offered him a route along Interstate 81 to the Canadian border. The complaint states that “Lindsey did not intend to go to Canada, but the GPS led them there.” He was refused entry into Canada and was returned to U.S. Customs at the Alexandria Bay port of entry, where he told agents he was headed to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino.


In court Friday, he admitted that he was paid to transport the aliens and that he knew they were in the country illegally. He remains free on pretrial release awaiting sentence.

Watertown Daily Times | Mississippi man admits transporting aliens at Alexandria Bay