A Mexican national was sentenced on July 29 to 211 days of custody for illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal, with deportation as the next step, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Fabian Lopez-Barragan, 25, pleaded guilty in February to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the case.
According to court documents, Lopez-Barragan returned to the United States in 2020 after being deported in 2019. He was stopped by law enforcement in Sidney on December 30, 2025, for driving a car with plates that did not match the vehicle. After questioning his driver’s license, officers contacted Havre Border Patrol agents, who determined he was in the country illegally.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. The sentencing is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aiming to address illegal immigration and related crime through coordinated efforts by federal agencies.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana operates offices across Billings, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula and focuses on protecting citizens through ethical enforcement of federal laws and safeguarding public funds as part of its mission within the Department of Justice, according to the official website.