Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
A foreign national from the Democratic Republic of Congo has pleaded guilty to illegally entering the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont reported that 23-year-old Lordson Mboko Mavungu admitted to crossing into the country at an undesignated location.
Court records reveal that on May 3, 2025, around 2:00 a.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police alerted U.S. Border Patrol about two adults and a child preparing to cross from Canada into the U.S. near Guay Farm Rd in Troy, Vermont. Upon investigation, Border Patrol agents identified and detained Mavungu after confirming his illegal entry using a Democratic Republic of Congo identification card.
Mavungu initially appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 5, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty and was detained. However, by May 8, he changed his plea to guilty and received a time-served sentence instead of facing up to six months' imprisonment.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman prosecuted Mavungu's case while Lisa B. Shelkrot represented him.
This incident is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and combating transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts by various departments within the Department of Justice.
