Mexican National Sentenced to Time Served For Reentry of Removed Alien Offense

SOUTH BEND - Bernardo Chagala-Cosme, 34 years old, of a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Chagala-Cosme was sentenced to time served.

According to documents in the case, Chagala-Cosme is not a citizen of the United States. He was previously removed from the United States in September 2013, but he quickly reentered the United States. He was removed again in October 2013, and again in April 2015. Police found Chagala-Cosme in LaPorte in January 2026 after they responded to the scene of a car crash. Police followed a trail of leaking fluid, which led directly to the house where Chagala-Cosme was living. He had 0.5 grams of cocaine in his pocket, and his blood alcohol content tested at 0.35. Police discovered he was in the country illegally when they booked and fingerprinted him.

"The Defendant was a drunk illegal alien with cocaine in his pocket and found at the end of fluid trail after a car crash. He has been removed after two previous violations of our nation's borders, and does not seem to think the rules apply to him. He clearly does not respect our nation's laws or its sovereignty," said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the LaPorte Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.