A Mexican man who illegally re-entered the U.S. was sentenced in federal court Jan. 14 to time served, 97 days, and was remanded to the U.S. Border Patrol, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
Justino Sanchez-Melo, 42, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
He’s been held in the Cascade County Adult Detention Center since Oct. 12.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
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Sanchez-Melo was one of four illegal aliens encountered at a hotel in Great Falls on Oct. 10, 2025, according to court documents, after receiving information that possible illegal aliens were working in Great Falls and living at the hotel. Law enforcement conducted surveillance on the location and located multiple vehicles registered to possible illegal aliens with prior removals and without permission to be, work, or live in the U.S., according to Alme’s office.
Around 7 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2025, law enforcement encountered Sanchez-Melo walking near the hotel parking lot, identifying themselves and conducted an immigration inspection, during which he admitted to being a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S. At that point, Sanchez-Melo was placed under arrest and transported to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing, according to court documents.
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Sanchez-Melo was advised of his rights. He acknowledged his rights and was unwilling to answer questions without a lawyer present.
The investigation revealed that Sanchez-Melo:
- originally apprehended and ordered removed by U.S. Border Patrol on Feb. 24, 2011 and was removed on Feb. 26, 2011, through Calexico, Cali.
- encountered on March 14, 2011, where his order of removal was reinstated, then removed on March 18, 2011, through Del Rio, Texas.
- encountered on Sept. 2, 2013, where his order of removal was reinstated, then removed on Dec. 14, 2013, through Eagle Pass, Texas.
- encountered on May 22, 2023, where his order of removal was reinstated, then removed on Sept. 19, 2023, through Nogales, Ariz.
Sanchez-Melo has 3 previous federal convictions of improper entry and according to court documents, there is no indication in the files of Department of Homeland Security that Sanchez-Melo ever applied for or obtained the permission of the U.S. Attorney General or successor, or the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the U.S.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to stop illegal immigration, elimination cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
