A Saskatchewan couple has been sentenced after admitting to their roles in a human smuggling operation involving a group of Nigerian asylum-seekers.
In a ruling brought down May 28, a provincial court judge in Estevan ordered Victor Omoruyi of Regina to spend nine months in jail and pay a $20,000 fine.
His wife, Michelle Strawford-Omoruyi, was given a 12-month conditional sentence and a fine of $10,000.
Both had pleaded guilty in March to counts of human smuggling and possession of the proceeds of crime.
Three other charges were stayed in return for their guilty pleas.
The pair was accused of helping five adults and four children who were intercepted while crossing into Canada from North Dakota in April 2017.
As part of their sentence, the couple must pay a $200 surcharge.
Strawford-Omoruyi must also abide by a curfew during the first two months of her conditional sentence and complete 40 hours of community service within the first six months.
She apologized in court and said she wants to move on and start her life over.
Victor Omoruyi was previously deported from the U.S. where he pleaded guilty in a North Dakota district court to transporting an illegal alien and was sentenced to six months in jail.
All nine people who were detained later made refugee claims.
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