Seven Romanian nationals faced arraignment in Great Falls, Montana, for immigration offenses after allegedly crossing into the United States from Canada. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the charges following the court proceedings.
Among the defendants, Ionut Gheorghe, aged 27, and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to transporting illegal aliens. A conviction could result in up to five years in prison, fines reaching $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Adi Marinescu Gheorghe also faces an additional charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien, which may lead to a sentence of two years in prison, an identical fine, and three years of supervised release.
The other individuals, Mihai Mahaela, 40, Sorin Sandu, 45, Conte Nicolae, 19, Alin Amadeus Musuroi, 23, and Lacrimoara Nicolae, 51, are charged with illegal entry of an alien. Convictions could bring a punishment of six months in jail, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release.
Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided over the arraignment, ordering the continued detention of all defendants pending further legal proceedings.
Court documents revealed the allegations that Ionut Gheorghe and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe were driving vans on April 25, 2025. These vehicles were purportedly detected by U.S. Border Patrol crossing the border at around 2:30 a.m. The authorities then intercepted the vans on the highway I-15, detained the occupants, and transported them to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation. In total, the two vans contained 21 individuals, including men, women, and children.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the investigation conducted by the United States Border Patrol. These proceedings are part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to counter illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities against violent crime.
The charges are currently accusations, and the defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The cases can be tracked using the PACER system for electronic document access, and updates are available through the U.S. District Court Calendar.