A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for transporting a group of Irish nationals, including children, who had illegally crossed the US-Canada border into Vermont.44-year-old Tyshan Murray of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was sentenced last week. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to serve three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to unlawfully transporting aliens in furtherance of their unlawful entry into the US.According to court records, the incident took place on September 8, 2024, near Drew Road in Richford, Vermont, close to the Canadian border. Authorities said nine Irish citizens had crossed illegally into the US before Murray arrived to pick them up.The group included five adults and four children.US Border Patrol agents had already received reports of an illegal border crossing in the area and later stopped Murray’s SUV nearby. During the stop, agents found three adults and three young children seated in the rear seats of the vehicle. Two additional children were discovered sitting on luggage in the rear cargo compartment.Federal prosecutors sought a 33-month prison sentence, arguing that Murray had recklessly endangered the children by transporting them without proper restraints. Prosecutors also pointed to his lengthy criminal record, which includes several previous prison sentences.First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt praised the work of Border Patrol agents involved in the case.“The smuggling of aliens across our northern border creates significant national security risks and endangers the lives of the people unlawfully entering our country. Those like Tyshan Murray, who reap illicit profit from alien smuggling, should receive significant punishment,” Ophardt said.
