Man admits smuggling four aliens into U.S.

A Polish man admitted Friday in U.S. District Court that he helped smuggle four people into the United States through Wellesley Island.

Wlodzimierz Wiesko, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of alien smuggling. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine at sentencing, which is scheduled for Feb. 19.

According to court documents, he admitted he smuggled two of his compatriots, as well as a Belarusian and an Australian, into the country Sept. 3. His vehicle was halted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on Interstate 81 just south of the Thousand Islands Bridge.

His vehicle initially had drawn the attention of an agent after it was observed traveling down dead-end Novak Road leading toward Lake of the Isles, an area that has been identified as one used for smuggling of aliens and contraband, according to court documents.

The vehicle then headed south over the international bridge and south on the interstate, where it was halted by agents. Mr. Wiesko identified himself to the agent as Adam D. Ranecki, 28, and produced two forms of identification from Illinois. He told the agent he was heading to Syracuse, but was "evasive and vague" in his answers.

When it was discovered that none of the other passengers spoke English, all of the vehicle's occupants were taken to the Wellesley Island Border Patrol station for further questioning, at which time Mr. Wiesko admitted his true identity and it was discovered that none of the occupants had been inspected by immigration officers. Agents also recovered $3,600 from Mr. Wiesko.