GREAT FALLS, Mont. (NMB) – Three Mexican citizens who admitted to trying to smuggle undocumented immigrants across the border from Canada into Glacier County last year have been sentenced to time served.
Samuel Velasco-Tovar, 28, who was a foot guide, and Omero Banderas-Rodriguez, 39 who was a driver, both were sentenced on Wednesday to 158 days of time served.
Alberto Guillen-Gordillo, 23, who was intended to be a driver, was sentenced Thursday to 159 days of time served.
All three defendants pleaded guilty in February in U.S. District Court in Great Falls on charges of illegal transportation.
Judge Brian Morris referred all defendants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.
A fourth co-defendant, Josue Bermudez-Lopez, of Mexico, was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to the same charge.
According to the prosecution, on November 17th, 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agents caught the defendants attempting to smuggle three undocumented immigrants into Montana.
