Alleged undocumented Chinese citizens found during traffic stop in Ellisburg

By BRIAN KELLY
BKELLY@WDT.NET

PUBLISHED: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2015 AT 10:50 AM

ELLISBURG — A Hogansburg woman faces federal allegations that she had two undocumented Chinese citizens in her vehicle during a traffic stop here Wednesday on Interstate 81.

Ruth Smoke, age and address unavailable, was charged by U.S. Border Patrol agents with transporting illegal aliens, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Syracuse.

According to the complaint, Ms. Smoke’s vehicle was stopped by state police in the town of Ellisburg for unspecified reasons.

Police discovered two Chinese nationals, Shihua Chen and Tuxin Lin, in the vehicle. The pair allegedly had no immigration documents allowing them to legally enter or be within the United States and were detained as illegal aliens.

Ms. Smoke and the Chinese citizens were taken to the Border Patrol station on Wellesley Island for questioning. Ms. Smoke allegedly told agents that she was driving at about 8 p.m. Tuesday on Route 37 near the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in Hogansburg when she saw three people with backpacks walking on the road. She stopped and “spoke with a younger Chinese male that looked Native American,” according to the complaint.

The other two Asians with the male, a second male and a female, were unable to speak English, so the male translated for them, telling Ms. Smoke that they were headed to Syracuse and needed a ride.

“Smoke felt bad for the two Chinese as it was cold outside and they did not speak English,” the complaint states. “Smoke stated that she could give them a ride and was told she was going to receive $100 along with gas money to drop them off near Syracuse, New York.”

Ms. Smoke allegedly was told that the two Chinese citizens were going to give her a paper with the address in Syracuse where they were to be dropped off, “but she hadn’t received it prior to the stop with New York State Police.”

According to separate criminal complaints filed against Mr. Lin and Ms. Chen, the pair allegedly admitted they had arrived in the United States by boat earlier in the evening Wednesday and were headed to New York City. Both were charged with improper entry by an alien.

Ms. Smoke made an initial appearance in federal court Friday and was ordered released under certain conditions. Mr. Lin and Ms. Chen made similar appearances and were ordered held in federal marshal’s custody pending detention Tuesday.

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/n...sburg-20151206