Federal immigration agents arrested a Russian national in Brooklyn who killed a Minnesota truck driver in 2024 while watching an English-learning video on his iPad behind the wheel, serving just 120 days in jail before his capture.
Fatal Crash and Minimal Consequences
Georgii Gabiev ran a stop sign on March 5, 2024, in rural Chippewa County, Minnesota, killing truck driver Tim Tarnowski. Gabiev told law enforcement he was listening to an English-language instructional program on his iPad at the time of the collision. He claimed he was not looking at the device while driving, though he admitted the program was playing during the crash.
After pleading guilty to criminal vehicular manslaughter, Gabiev served only 120 days in county jail. The minimal sentence sparked outrage from the victim’s family, who watched as the man responsible for their loved one’s death walked free after four months behind bars.
Immigration History Raises Questions
Gabiev entered the United States illegally from Russia in 2022 and was released into the country by federal authorities during the Biden administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested him on June 9 in Brooklyn, where he will remain in custody pending deportation proceedings. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin personally informed Tarnowski’s widow, Tammy, of the arrest.
Secretary Mullin condemned the immigration policies that allowed Gabiev to remain in the country. He stated Gabiev had no justification for being in America or driving on American roads. Mullin connected the case to broader border security failures, arguing the tragedy would never have occurred under stricter immigration enforcement.
Family Finds Closure After Arrest
Tammy Tarnowski expressed relief at news of the arrest, saying her family can now begin healing. She acknowledged that while nothing will bring her husband back, the apprehension delivers deserved justice. The widow hopes increased attention on families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants will prevent similar heartache for other American families in the future.