An Albanian man has been charged in the United States after federal prosecutors accused him of illegally entering the country from Canada by riding a rented Sea-Doo across the St. Clair River while allegedly livestreaming the crossing on Facebook.

According to a federal criminal complaint, 40-year-old Romeo Bajrami was located by U.S. authorities nearly a year after the alleged crossing and is now charged with improper entry into the United States. Prosecutors allege videos he streamed on Facebook became part of the evidence used in the investigation.

Authorities say the incident took place on August 9, 2025, when Bajrami rented a Sea-Doo from a business in Sarnia, Ontario, paying cash for a one-hour rental. Instead of returning the watercraft, investigators allege he crossed the international border into Michigan through the St. Clair River.

After Bajrami failed to return, the rental company contacted him several times. He allegedly apologized for being late and claimed he was on his way back, but never returned the Sea-Doo. Police were later notified, prompting a search involving Canadian police, the Coast Guard and local fire departments.

The Sea-Doo was eventually found abandoned on the Michigan shoreline near Port Huron. Authorities also recovered the ignition keys, a life jacket and a shirt investigators say Bajrami had been wearing before concluding he had likely entered the United States.

Federal prosecutors allege Bajrami livestreamed the crossing on Facebook and that geolocation data from the videos matched the location where investigators believe he crossed the border.

Nearly a year later, authorities located Bajrami in a jail in the Boston area on an unrelated matter. Following his identification, federal prosecutors filed the criminal complaint charging him with illegally entering the United States.

Canadian authorities have also issued an arrest warrant charging Bajrami with theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the rented Sea-Doo.