A Mexican man who used fake immigration documents was sentenced in federal court on May 6 to time served, 62 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Salvador Santiago-Lopez, 33, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of use and possession of fraudulent immigration documents.

On March 6, law enforcement stopped a car near Malta in which Salvador Santiago-Lopez was a passenger. During the stop, law enforcement discovered he is a Mexican citizen without papers to be in the U.S. legally, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Santiago-Lopez was informed of his Miranda rights, acknowledged understanding them and continued answering questions, according to the prosecutors. He admitted to being a citizen and national of Mexico without legal documentation to enter, pass through, or remain in the U.S. He further admitted to crossing the international boundary illegally without inspection by an immigration officer at a designated port of entry, according to the prosecution.

Mexican man in U.S. illegally sentenced in federal court

Santiago-Lopez claimed ownership of $18,000 in U.S. currency found in his duffle bag and was traveling to borrow borrow $12,000 from his brother in Washington so he would have $30,000 to pay to have his sister smuggled into the U.S., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Santiago-Lopez was in possession of a fake Social Security card and a fake I-551 card, documents he used to gain employment and when he was arrested for a DUI, according to prosecutors.

DHS records indicate that Santiago-Lopez entered the U.S. illegally on August 20, 2017.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

He was booked into the Cascade County Adult Detention Center on March 7, according to county records.

In late April, Juan Abraham Carranco-Carranco, 30, was sentenced to time served, 59 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.

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Carranco-Carranco pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of illegal reentry.

On Feb. 23, Border Patrol agents received information regarding a person possibly in the U.S. illegally traveling in a Chevy Traverse, bearing Texas license plates.

Agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle in Hinsdale, but the driver of the vehicle accelerated rapidly after noticing the agents, exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour before agents could activate their emergency lights. Due to the vehicle’s high speeds, agents were unable to maintain a visual of the vehicle and nearby law enforcement agencies were notified the vehicle was traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 2 toward Glasgow, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Law enforcement stopped the suspect’s vehicle on Highway 2, near Oswego with two occupants inside. The driver was identified by his Honduran passport and issued a warning for speeding. Carranco-Carranco was identified as the passenger and detained.

He’s suspected of reentering the U.S. on or about Nov. 1, 2021, near Laredo, Texas. Federal records confirmed he never applied for or obtained permission from the U.S. Attorney General or the Homeland Security secretary to reenter the U.S.

Three Mexican men sentenced for being in the U.S. illegally [2025]

Carranco-Carranco was first removed from the U.S. in September 2015 by Expedited Removal through the Laredo foot bridge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol, Montana Highway Patrol, and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.

He was booked in the Cascade County jail on Feb. 24 and was in the jail as of his sentencing, according to county records.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over both cases.