SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brian Lazore, age 45, of Hogansburg, New York, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three counts of alien smuggling.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

As part of his previous guilty plea, Lazore admitted to smuggling six Indian citizens from Cornwall, Ontario, into the United States using the St. Lawrence and St. Regis Rivers.   During the smuggling event on April 28, 2022, Lazore’s boat sank in the St. Regis River, and Lazore and the Indian nationals were ultimately picked up by the St. Regis Mohawk Rescue Vessel.  Lazore admitted to smuggling the aliens for his own financial gain.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 2-year term of supervised release to follow Lazore’s term of incarceration. 

The United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt prosecuted the case.