Man charged with smuggling aliens (Watertown Daily Times)

Man charged with smuggling aliens
BORDER PATROL ARREST: Polish citizen accused of helping four people enter U.S. illegally at Wellesley Island

By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

ALEXANDRIA BAY — A Polish citizen faces an allegation that he smuggled two of his compatriots, as well as a Belarusian and an Australian, into the United States at Wellesley Island.

Wlodzimierz Wiesko, 36, also known as Adam D. Ranecki, faces a federal complaint that he smuggled aliens into the country and harbored them after a vehicle he was operating was halted by U.S. Border Patrol agents Sept. 3 on Interstate 81 just south of the Thousand Islands Bridge.

According to the complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, Mr. Wiesko picked up the illegal aliens at the end of a dead-end Wellesley Island road leading toward Lake of the Isles and then headed south over the international bridge.

It is alleged that a Border Patrol agent observed a vehicle traveling down the dead-end Novak Road. Since the area has been identified as one used for smuggling of aliens and contraband, the agent requested backup and began following the vehicle.

According to the complaint, a second agent stopped the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which was registered to a New Jersey trucking firm. Mr. Wiesko allegedly 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 allegedly was "evasive and vague" in his answers.

The agent attempted to question the other passengers, but was told they did not speak English. All of the vehicle's occupants were then taken to the Wellesley Island Border Patrol station for further questioning, at which time Mr. Wiesko allegedly admitted his true identity.

According to the complaint, he also admitted he had used Mr. Ranecki's Social Security card to obtain a fake Illinois driver's license because his driver's license was suspended. Agents allegedly found Mr. Ranecki's Social Security card in the vehicle, as well as five credit cards issued under the alias Adam Ranecki. There also was $3,600 wrapped in black electrical tape in Mr. Wiesko's possession.

A records check showed that Mr. Wiesko had entered the country through Philadelphia, Pa., in 2002 with a visitor's visa. In 2005, he applied for "employment authorization," but was denied and subsequently was processed for removal from the country. He applied for relief from deportation and the case is still under review by an immigration judge, according to the complaint.

A further check of records allegedly revealed that the passengers were in the country illegally, resulting in allegations that they had eluded examination and inspection by immigration officers when entering the country.

Being held by U.S. marshals pending a detention hearing Tuesday in district court are two Polish women, Roualda Rutkowska, 65, and Alina Dziadosz, 42; a Belarusian man, Victor Butco, 39, and an Australian man, Brett A. Colton, 37.

According to the complaint, each admitted to being smuggled into the country and "revealed a fear for their lives if they were to become witnesses in this smuggling case."

Mr. Wiesko also faces a detention hearing Tuesday.