A Mexican national has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making a false statement to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. Felipe De Jesus Zavala Medel, aged 64, received a sentence of time served, which amounted to approximately 104 days of detention since January 29, 2025.
Court records indicate that in January 2025, Zavala Medel approached the Coburn Gore port of entry from Canada and presented a North Dakota driver’s license under the name “Johny Joe Olivo.” He falsely claimed to have been born in Texas and signed a Customs Declaration form with this incorrect information. During questioning, he admitted lacking documents permitting legal entry or residence in the United States.
Following the proceedings, Zavala Medel was handed over to immigration authorities. The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aiming to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation leverages resources from the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
