Canadian-American Smuggler Remains in Custody After Migrant Drownings

Timothy Oakes, a 34-year-old dual citizen of Canada and the United States, has been ordered to remain in custody after a detention hearing held in New York's Northern District Court. Arrested on June 15 while trying to enter the U.S., Oakes has been implicated in a human smuggling operation that ended in tragedy with the drowning of a family from Romania in March 2023.

Oakes, who resides in the Akwesasne area that straddles the Canada-U.S. border, was indicted in April upon allegations of conspiring to smuggle individuals into the United States illegally. He faces serious charges including four counts of alien smuggling for profit and additional counts for smuggling that resulted in death. The court documents indicate that Oakes played a significant role in this smuggling operation, which tragically resulted in the deaths of a Romanian family consisting of a father, mother, and their two young children.

The deceased family members have been identified as Florin Iordache, his wife Cristina, and their young children Evelin and Elyen. U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III remarked on the case, emphasizing the threats posed by illegal border crossings and the culpability of smuggling networks in endangering lives. According to the allegations, Oakes was involved in routinely transporting individuals across the perilous St. Lawrence River, charging approximately $1,000 per person.

Reports suggest that Oakes accommodated the Iordache family for a day before attempting their voyage. Tragically, the boat capsized during the journey, claiming the lives of all four family members and Oakes' brother, Casey, who was at the helm. Although another family of four from India was reported to have drowned in the same incident, their deaths are not included in Oakes' indictment.

Law enforcement highlighted that Akwesasne's unique geography makes it a hotspot for human and contraband smuggling. The U.S. Justice Department has noted that individuals involved in this operation were fully aware of the treacherous conditions on the river at the time of the drownings. Other co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty in connection with the incident, acknowledging the precarious weather conditions that contributed to the tragedy.

Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, condemned the actions of Oakes and his associates, stressing that their motives were driven by greed, leading to the unnecessary loss of innocent lives, including that of a mother, father, their two small children, and one of their own.