New York Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Human Smuggling Conspiracy That Caused the Deaths of Family of Four in St. Lawrence River

A New York woman has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a tragic human smuggling operation that ended with the deaths of a family of four, including two young children, in the St. Lawrence River.

Janet Terrance, 45, from Hogansburg, is one of several individuals implicated in the conspiracy to smuggle people across the U.S.-Canada border, putting lives at risk for financial gain.

The Fatal Smuggling Attempt

According to court documents, Terrance, along with five other co-conspirators, worked together to bring Romanian and Indian nationals into the United States for profit.

This operation involved smuggling people through hazardous weather conditions, often using vehicles and boats to cross the border.

Tragically, one such attempt in March 2023 resulted in the deaths of a Romanian family — a mother, father, and their two children, aged one and two.

The family was attempting to cross the St. Lawrence River from Cornwall, Canada, to New York when the boat capsized in dangerous conditions, including high winds and freezing temperatures.

Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty

Terrance’s co-conspirators, Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy earlier this year.

Montour admitted to knowing about the perilous weather conditions on the day of the smuggling attempt but proceeded with the plan nonetheless.

The smuggling organization, operating on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation, had a history of illegally transporting people into the United States, with the hope of profiting from each successful crossing.

The Dangers of Human Smuggling

This heartbreaking incident highlights the devastating consequences of human smuggling, as U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon explained, “A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit.”

Special Agent Erin Keegan of ICE HSI Buffalo echoed this sentiment, stressing how smuggling organizations continue to endanger lives for financial gain, even in the face of extreme risk.

The Ongoing Investigation and Sentencing

Montour faces severe charges, including conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and alien smuggling resulting in death, with potential sentences of up to life in prison.

Terrance and Sharrow are both facing prison sentences as well, with the maximum penalties for their respective charges ranging from 10 to 15 years.

A federal district court will determine their sentences after considering all factors, including the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Collaborative Efforts to Combat Smuggling

The case is part of a broader effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its partners to dismantle human smuggling organizations operating at the U.S.-Canada border.

The investigation involved agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol, Canadian law enforcement, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, all working together to combat this dangerous and illegal activity.

The tragic deaths of this family have underscored the critical need to address and prevent the operations of these dangerous smuggling networks, which prioritize profit over the safety and well-being of innocent lives.