Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office Prosecutes 60 Defendants For Crimes Related to Unlawful Border Crossings from Canada

BURLINGTON - Over the last six weeks, unlawful crossing activity at Vermont's international border with Canada has increased significantly, resulting in a substantial number of criminal prosecutions in the District of Vermont. Since May 22, 2026, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont has prosecuted 60 defendants for crimes related to unlawful border crossings. These 60 defendants were citizens and nationals of 20 different foreign countries including Angola, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Mauritania, Mexico, Romania, Senegal, Spain, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom. Court proceedings required interpretation services for 12 different languages. Four of the defendants were charged with felony alien smuggling offenses. One defendant was charged with felony unlawful reentry after a prior removal. The remainder of the defendants were charged with misdemeanor illegal entry.

One of the alien smuggling cases occurred on June 11, 2026. According to court records, a minivan linked to prior smuggling activity was located by Border Patrol in Newport, Vermont. The minivan drove at a high rate of speed through streets in the City of Newport, eventually merging onto Interstate 91 southbound. Border Patrol successfully stopped the vehicle on Interstate 91. An immigration inspection revealed that the driver of the minivan was Eduardo Luis Frias-Urena, age 37, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, who has lawful permanent resident status in the United States. In the back seat, agents located Ion Tulceanu, age 31, a citizen of Romania. Tulceanu admitted he had flown from Romania to Poland, and then to Toronto, Canada, rode a bus to Montreal, and paid for a ride to the border, where he crossed the border on foot. On June 12, 2026, Tulceanu pleaded guilty to illegal entry and received a sentence of time served from United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Frias-Urena was charged by criminal complaint with transportation of an illegal alien and was ordered by Magistrate Judge Doyle to be released on conditions pending trial.

Another alien smuggling case occurred on June 20, 2026. According to court records, Border Patrol surveillance detected a crossing event on the border near Highgate, Vermont at approximately 4:00pm. Approximately 2.5 hours later, six people were found hiding in the woods off a rural road in the same vicinity. They were identified as Sidney Lauryn Parra Torres, age 24, a citizen of Colombia and a woman from the Congo with her four children aged 2 to 14 years old. Border Patrol later apprehended Maimouna Diakhate, age 24, of Senegal, at a residence in close proximity to where the others had been apprehended. A Toyota Prius that had been previously suspected of alien smuggling was located loitering in the area in proximity of the Highgate Port of Entry. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver identified as Oguzhan Yilmaz, age 25, a citizen of Türkiye, who was detained. Investigation revealed that Yilmaz had received Zelle payments from Parra Torres. On June 22, 2026, Diakhate pleaded guilty to illegal entry and received a sentence of time served from Magistrate Judge Doyle. Parra Torres was charged by criminal complaint with illegal entry and consented to detention pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. Yilmaz was charged by criminal complaint with attempted transportation of an illegal alien and was ordered by Magistrate Judge Doyle to be released on conditions pending trial.

One of the illegal entry cases involved an illegal entry through the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, Vermont by Maria Paz Gonzalez-Vidal, age 59, a citizen of Chile. According to court records, Gonzalez-Vidal purchased both a Canadian and an American ticket to a performance at the Haskell on June 13, 2026. While inside the Haskell, Gonzalez-Vidal changed clothing in an apparent attempt to facilitate her unlawful entry into the United States. Gonzalez-Vidal then exited the Haskell, and was apprehended on Main Street in Derby Line, Vermont. She pleaded guilty to illegal entry on June 15, 2026, and received a sentence of time served from Magistrate Judge Doyle.

Another case involved an illegal entry by Diego Alejandro Restrepo-Vergara, age 45, a citizen of Colombia. According to court records, Restrepo-Vergara flew from Panama City, Panama to Montreal, Canada on June 21. One June 22, he crossed the international border near the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, Vermont on foot, and was apprehended on June 23 in Newport, Vermont. At the time of his apprehension, Restrepo-Vergara had a valid American tourist visa, and could have lawfully entered at the Derby Line Port of Entry approximately 200 yards from the Haskell Free Library. Restrepo-Vergara pleaded guilty to illegal entry on June 24, 2026, and received a sentence of time served from Magistrate Judge Doyle.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasizes that those pending trial are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Frias-Urena and Yilmaz face up to 5 years of imprisonment if convicted of alien smuggling. Parra Torres faces up to six months of imprisonment if convicted of illegal entry. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the diligent efforts of the United States Border Patrol Agents patrolling the northern border of Vermont. He added: "Securing our northern border with Canada remains a significant national security priority. Everyone crossing the border, including United States citizens, must do so at a designated port of entry. The United States Attorney's Office will continue to prioritize prosecution of those who unlawfully enter our country and those facilitating their unlawful entry."

"Securing our border is a paramount national security priority, and I want to be unequivocally clear: the border is closed to illegal immigration", stated Acting Chief Patrol Agent Richard Fortunato, Swanton Border Patrol Sector. "We are deeply grateful for the diligent efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont in prosecuting the 60 defendants involved in unlawful border crossings. Their commitment to upholding the rule of law is critical in our shared mission to protect our nation and deter those who seek to enter our country illegally."

These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.