(GREAT FALLS) The US Border Patrol-Havre Sector announced recently that agents apprehended a person involved in the smuggling of what it called "three illegal aliens." The arrest happened on March 4, 2025.
The agency said the three illegal aliens have been identified as Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members.
The US Department of the Treasury said several months ago of TdA:
From its origins as a prison gang in Aragua, Venezuela, Tren de Aragua has quickly expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere in recent years. With a particular focus on human smuggling and other illicit acts that target desperate migrants, the organization has developed additional revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, such as illegal mining, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, and the trafficking of illicit drugs such as cocaine and MDMA.
The alleged smuggler, a US citizen, will be prosecuted for "bringing in and harboring illegal aliens," per 8 USC 1324.
The illegal aliens will be charged with "improper entry by alien" and "re-entry of removed aliens," per 8 USC 1324 and 8 USC 1326.
The agency did not release the names of any of the people involved.
(UPDATE, April 16) Charges of illegal entry by an alien against two of the people have been dismissed without prejudice by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, whose order states:
On April 2, 2025, the Grand Jury returned an indictment against four defendants in this case. Counts 3 and 4 of the indictment allege that defendants Suarez and Diaz-Rivas unlawfully entered the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1325.
Since the indictment was filed, the United States has determined that venue for the crimes charged in counts 3 and 4 are not proper in Montana.
Accordingly, the United States moves the court to dismiss counts 3 and 4 of the indictment.
The other two pleaded not guilty to their charges last week.
Kristin Louise Mitchell (aka Kristin Louise Short) of Shelby, 41 years old, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with attempted harboring of illegal aliens.
Carlos Alexis Ponce-Lopez of Honduras, 33, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with re-entry of removed alien.
Mitchell was released on conditions, and Ponce-Lopez was detained pending further proceedings.
NOTE: The headline above now includes the word ALLEGED. The Border Patrol stated in its news release on March 18th that the "illegal aliens have been identified as Tren de Aragua Gang members," but provided no evidence that they were actually gang members.
