Illegal Alien Child Rapist Sentenced for Immigration Fraud

NEW BERN, N.C. - A federal judge sentenced Juarez Sanchez-Montiel, 41, an illegal alien born in Mexico, to 7 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. On March 16, 2026, Sanchez pleaded guilty to immigration fraud.

"This despicable rapist will no longer prey on our vulnerable and innocent young children." said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "The taxpayers of Eastern North Carolina should have comfort knowing that we will stomp out spiders like this who cheat and manipulate the system. He better stay out."

On December 11, 2023, in Montgomery County, North Carolina Superior Court, a grand jury returned two indictments against Sanchez, charging him with first-degree statutory rape, statutory rape of a child 15 years of age or younger, and sex by a substitute parent or custodian. He committed those crimes against the first victim on May 1, 2016, and the second victim on September 11, 2023. On August 19, 2024, a jury convicted Sanchez of statutory rape of a child 15 years of age or younger, statutory sex offense with child 15 years of age or younger, and two counts of sex act by substitute parent or custodian. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of between 18 and 26 years and ordered to register as a sex offender. Both victims were children under the age of 13, and his sexual abuse crimes resulted in the birth of two children.

Sanchez confessed to knowingly making materially false statements under penalty of perjury on his application to obtain a U-Visa when he submitted it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) in November of 2021. In response to the questions "Have you EVER committed a crime or offense for which you have not been arrested?" and "Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in any of the following:…[e]ngaging in any kind of sexual conduct or relations with any person who was being forced or threatened?" he answered "No."

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced the defendant. ICE ERO investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven - an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain immigration benefits. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Sanchez will be transferred to ICE custody for removal from the US.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North CarolinaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-114-FL.