New Jersey Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Transporting Aliens from Ireland Who Entered the United States Unlawfully on Vermont-Canadian Border

BURLINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office stated that on May 7, 2026, Tyshan Murray, 44, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a sentence of 18 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Murray previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully transporting aliens in furtherance of their unlawful entry into the United States.

According to court records, on September 8, 2024, nine citizens of Ireland had illegally crossed into the United States in the vicinity of Drew Road in Richford, Vermont. Murray picked up the five adults and four children near the U.S.-Canada border. U. S. Border Patrol Agents had been alerted to an unlawful crossing in the area, responded to investigate, and stopped Murray's SUV in the vicinity of the unlawful crossing. During the traffic stop, a Border Patrol Agent observed three adults and three young children in the rear seats, and two additional young children in the rear cargo compartment sitting on luggage.

At sentencing, the government requested a 33-month sentence, noting Murray's reckless endangerment of the unrestrained children and his extensive criminal history, which includes multiple previous sentences of incarceration.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol. He added: "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."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Murray was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.