A Colombian man, Jhader Augusto Uribe-Tobar, has been extradited from Canada to the United States and arraigned on charges related to the drowning of a pregnant Mexican woman in December 2023. The incident occurred as she attempted to cross the Great Chazy River in Champlain, New York, while trying to enter the U.S. illegally.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman announced the development alongside Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Field Office and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of United States Border Patrol Swanton Sector.
Uribe-Tobar, aged 36 and residing in Quebec, Canada, allegedly smuggled the woman known as A.V.-F., charging $2,500 for guiding her through the river at night. This attempt resulted in her death.
"This tragedy highlights the dangers of illegal migration and how, as alleged, smugglers deliberately put people in harm’s way for profit," stated U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman. She emphasized that prosecuting human smuggling networks is crucial to deterring dangerous crossings.
Erin Keegan of HSI added: "We will not stand by as lives are tragically lost by the deception of human smugglers profiting off the vulnerability of migrants." Meanwhile, Robert Garcia from Border Patrol noted that effective border security relies on enforcing penalties for criminal actions.
The charges against Uribe-Tobar are accusations at this stage; he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case details reveal communication between Uribe-Tobar and A.V-F.’s relative via TikTok about smuggling arrangements and subsequent updates during her crossing attempt on December 11, 2023.
After failing to hear from A.V-F., her relative informed Border Patrol agents about her last known location near the Great Chazy River's edge. Authorities discovered her body on December 14 after a search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Uribe-Tobar faces a minimum sentence of three years up to life imprisonment if convicted. His trial is set before Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, New York.
The investigation is conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and United States Border Patrol with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Carling Dunham. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs played a role in securing his arrest and extradition.