Timothy J. Racicot Acting United States Attorney for the District of Montana | Wikipedia
A Honduran man, Carlos Alexis Ponce-Lopez, 33, has been sentenced to 99 days in prison followed by one year of supervised release for illegal reentry into the United States. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentence.
Ponce-Lopez had previously pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the charge of illegal reentry. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case.
According to court documents, Ponce-Lopez was initially ordered removed by an Immigration Judge on November 11, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas, and was deported on December 23 of that year. He illegally reentered on March 31, 2014, and was subsequently removed again on August 18, 2014. Each time he was deported, Ponce-Lopez was also convicted for illegal entry.
The Montana Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop near Billings on February 21, 2025. Ponce-Lopez was a passenger in the vehicle but was released after the driver received a citation.
On March 4, U.S. Border Patrol agents located Ponce-Lopez at a house in Shelby, Montana. As they approached him outside the home and addressed him as "Carlos Ponce," he confirmed his identity by responding in Spanish: “Si, es mi (Yes, that's me).” During an immigration inspection that followed his confirmation of identity and lack of legal documentation to remain in the United States legally or pending immigration hearings led to his arrest and transport to Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for processing.
There is no record within the Department of Homeland Security indicating that Ponce-Lopez applied for readmission into the country.
The prosecution involved collaboration between multiple agencies including U.S. Border Patrol and Montana Highway Patrol with support from Toole County Sheriff’s Office under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations through streamlined efforts from various Department of Justice task forces.
