A Honduran national, Josue Osmin Montoya Acosta, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally entering the United States after a prior removal. The plea was entered on February 25, 2025, following Montoya Acosta's encounter with law enforcement.
Court records demonstrate that Mr. Montoya Acosta, aged 36, was initially stopped by Brunswick Police for driving a vehicle without a front license plate and a non-illuminated rear license plate. The rear plate was discovered to be a temporary plate from Indiana. When questioned, Montoya Acosta provided a Honduran passport but lacked a driver's license and failed to produce a visa.
Further investigation involving a Border Patrol agent revealed that Montoya Acosta had been removed from the United States twice before and lacked legal documentation for re-entry. These findings led to his guilty plea for illegal entry into the country.
Montoya Acosta now faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. His sentence will be confirmed following a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office, as determined by a federal district court judge who will also consider sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
The case was thoroughly investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with support from the Brunswick Police Department.
This incident forms part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice. The operation aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle criminal cartels and organizations, primarily through resources and efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.