Neighbors said they were shocked after they learned a Deltona man is accused of human smuggling, after the bodies of four people were found near the U.S.-Canada border.
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One person told Channel 9 they had no idea when they heard the story Friday morning that it was their neighbor Steve Shand.
Shand, 47, lived in a house on Vienna Avenue, and people who knew him said he was a nice guy and helped them out with the grass and even rides.
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Shand was arrested in Minnesota by the U.S. attorney’s office.
Authorities said he was arrested on Tuesday during a traffic stop just south of the U.S.-Canadian border.
Shand was driving a white 15-passenger van with two passengers that were identified as undocumented Indian nationals.
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Five additional undocumented Indian nationals were located walking in the directions of where Shand was arrested and told authorities they had expected to be picked up.
They told authorities they had walked 11 hours and had been separated from their group during the night.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police found that group frozen to death. It was a family of four.
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Authorities said the victims faced not only the cold weather but endless fields of large snowdrifts and complete darkness.
Shand was ordered to remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing, currently scheduled for Jan. 24.
Investigators said Shand declined to speak with law enforcement officers.
He remains in custody Friday morning. Shand is expected to be in court on Monday.
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