New Jersey Man Sentenced After Transporting Irish Migrants Across Vermont Border
A 44-year-old New Jersey man will spend 18 months in federal prison after admitting he helped transport nine Irish citizens who illegally entered the United States through the U.S.-Canada border in Vermont, according to federal authorities.
Federal prosecutors said Tyshan Murray, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was sentenced in federal court and will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. The case centers around an incident that happened during the early hours of Sept. 8, 2024, near the northern border in Richford, Vermont.
Authorities said the group included four adults and five children who crossed illegally into the United States before entering Murray’s silver SUV, which carried New Jersey license plates. Investigators said the vehicle was waiting near Drew Road shortly after midnight when the group got inside.
Court documents stated that two of the children were riding inside the rear cargo section of the SUV without seat belts, raising additional safety concerns during the transport.
According to federal officials, Murray later told a Homeland Security agent that he was working as a truck driver and had traveled to the area to buy a truck. However, investigators said the situation quickly raised suspicions during the encounter.
Prosecutors stated that when agents asked Murray to step out of the vehicle, he allegedly attempted to delete information from his cellphone. Authorities also said the adults inside the SUV admitted they had crossed into the United States illegally from Canada.
One of the men involved reportedly told investigators that an associate in Canada had provided Murray’s cellphone number before the crossing. Court records further revealed that members of the group claimed they were afraid of Murray during the incident.
Federal officials said Homeland Security had received a tip regarding Murray’s presence in the area before the arrests were made.
Murray pleaded guilty in July 2025 to transporting individuals in furtherance of their unlawful entry into the United States. The charge is a federal immigration-related offense connected to human smuggling activity near the northern border.
Prosecutors also pointed to Murray’s previous criminal history during the case. Federal authorities and New Jersey court records show that he has prior charges including aggravated assault. Officials further noted that Murray had previously used the alias James Ashford.
The case highlights continued enforcement efforts by federal agencies along the U.S.-Canada border, where authorities have increased monitoring of illegal crossings and transportation operations connected to migrant smuggling networks.
Sources:
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Court Records, District of Vermont
