A Belgrade woman has pleaded guilty to harboring individuals who were in the United States illegally, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
Eustolia Casarreal-Morales, 56, admitted guilt on charges of harboring illegal aliens. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided over the plea hearing. The final sentencing will be determined by U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen after considering the federal sentencing guidelines and statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2026, in Missoula, Montana. Casarreal-Morales was released under certain conditions while awaiting further proceedings.
Court documents indicate that law enforcement interviewed two sources in 2023 who described being smuggled into the United States from Mexico before eventually arriving in Montana for work opportunities. These sources identified several people involved in their smuggling operation within the Bozeman area and linked Casarreal-Morales to at least one key smuggler.
In May 2025, authorities began monitoring a residence in Belgrade suspected of sheltering undocumented immigrants. After obtaining a search warrant, officers searched the property on August 12, 2025, discovering twelve individuals without legal status along with Casarreal-Morales inside the home. Investigators also found payment ledgers, false identification documents, records related to Casarreal-Morales, and other materials at the scene.
Casarreal-Morales made a brief statement during the search: "She was aware the individuals in the house were not legally in the United States and that was wrong."
Interviews with some of those found at the residence revealed that they had either overstayed visas or been smuggled into the country before coming to Belgrade for employment purposes. They reported paying monthly rent directly to Casarreal-Morales for living at her property.
Further interviews showed that these individuals worked locally while continuing payments to Casarreal-Morales for housing; two witnesses stated she knew one of their smugglers personally. Three witnesses said she sold them fraudulent identification documents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus is prosecuting this case; Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol led the investigation efforts.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aiming to use all Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and criminal organizations operating across borders as well as local communities.
