The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that yesterday the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Viatcheslav Kim, of Montreal, with one count of transporting aliens in furtherance of their illegal presence in the United States. Court records show that agents of the United States Border Patrol apprehended Kim during the early morning of May 31, 2017 in Derby Line, Vermont, as he was driving two persons who appeared to have just illegally entered the U.S. from Canada, on foot. Neither of Kim’s passengers were U.S. citizens, and neither had permission to be inside the United States.
Kim is charged with violating section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) of Title 8 of the United States Code. Should Kim be convicted as charged he faces a maximum possible sentence of a five-year term of incarceration. Kim is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted at trial or by plea.
The United States sought to detain Kim during the pendency of the prosecution based upon a risk of not appearing at future court proceedings. United States Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy denied the United States’ motion, and released Kim on conditions which included the posting of a $3000 cash bond.
“These arrests highlight the importance of our profession and display the unique talents Border Patrol Agents put forth to disrupt transnational criminal activity while securing our nation’s northern border," said Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer.
The Assistant United States Attorney is Michael P. Drescher. Kim is represented by Elizabeth Quinn, of the Office of Federal Public Defender.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
