Burlington, Vermont – On May 27, 2025, Sajah Konateh, a 51-year-old citizen of The Gambia born in Sierra Leone, admitted to illegally entering the United States. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont confirmed that Konateh pleaded guilty to charges related to unauthorized entry at an undesignated location.
Court documents reveal that on May 19, 2025, around 11:45 p.m., the United States Border Patrol captured an image showing three individuals, including Konateh, heading south towards a bike path on North Derby Road in Derby, Vermont. This location is just under a tenth of a mile from the U.S.-Canada border. It was suspected that these individuals had crossed into the U.S. unlawfully from Canada. Upon arrival at the scene, Border Patrol agents discovered the trio hiding in dense vegetation and arrested them. Subsequent record checks showed that Konateh lacked legal status in the country.
Konateh appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 27 and pleaded guilty, receiving a time-served sentence. His companions, Belvie Ikiela Lecka from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ayse Gul Sakiner from Türkiye, had already pleaded guilty to similar charges on May 20.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the efforts of the United States Border Patrol in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Stendig is prosecuting this case while Assistant Federal Defender Sara Puls represents Konateh.
This incident is part of Operation Take Back America. This nationwide initiative aims to combat illegal immigration by utilizing resources from various Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
