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FBI arrests Albanian for immigrant smuggling, how he fell into the undercover agent's trap

Politiko 2025-04-22 19:22:19

FBI arrests Albanian for immigrant smuggling, how he fell into the undercover

An indictment was filed in federal court in Brooklyn yesterday, accusing Fatjon Shytani, an Albanian citizen living in the Bronx, of running a smuggling operation to bring illegal immigrants from Canada to the United States. He was arrested on Sunday and appeared in court yesterday afternoon before Judge Lois Bloom, local media reported. 
The case is part of the US government's efforts to combat immigration-related crimes and could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if Shytani is convicted. Authorities have stressed the importance of cooperation between various law enforcement agencies in the US, Canada and Albania in this investigation.

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John J. Durham, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director of the FBI's New York Office, announced the arrest:

"As alleged, Shytani conspired to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States for financial gain, but was thwarted by the excellent work of our law enforcement partners," according to the press release.

The case highlights the federal government’s efforts to crack down on immigration-related crimes, as Shytani faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted of smuggling and conspiracy to smuggle.
In an undercover operation, Shytani accepted a payment of $14,000 from an agent posing as a client seeking to smuggle his partner from Kosovo to the United States. The transaction involved detailed arrangements for illegal crossing of the U.S.-Canada border, but Shytani was duped by undercover agents who were part of the operation. “Fatjon Shytani, an Albanian national, is alleged to have facilitated the illegal entry of foreign nationals into the United States in exchange for cash payments,” Raia said in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s official statement.

This case is part of the broader context of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational crime.

Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Roddin, Stephanie Pak, and Kate Mathews are leading the prosecution against Shytan, whose alleged actions undermine the immigration process and pose risks to national security.

 

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