Overview
- Prosecutors say Gabiev failed to stop at a stop sign on March 5, 2024, in Chippewa County, Minn., and struck a semi that killed driver Tim Tarnowski.
- Investigators found an iPad in Gabiev’s pickup that was playing a YouTube English-lesson video and say Gabiev told officers he was listening to the lesson while driving.
- Gabiev pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide after the crash, served about 120 days in jail with credit for time served, and was sentenced to probation and other sanctions.
- Ice arrested Gabiev in Brooklyn on June 9 and said he will remain in federal custody pending deportation proceedings after entering the U.S. from Russia in 2022 without authorization.
- DHS officials and the victim’s family have used the arrest to spotlight immigration enforcement, and Chippewa County prosecutors say the local case and possible further penalties will continue in district court.