Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont has announced charges against three Chilean nationals related to immigration offenses. Jose Quezada-Villena, 30, and Kevin Bernal-Fuentes, 25, both from Chile, are accused of transporting Jeanne Marie Medel-Garay, 46, also from Chile. Medel-Garay is charged with illegal entry into the United States after crossing from Canada without passing through a port of entry.
Court documents reveal that on May 27, 2025, the United States Border Patrol was alerted by a landowner near the U.S./Canada border about a female crossing into the U.S. at an unauthorized location in Derby Line, Vermont. The woman was reportedly picked up by a silver Nissan Rogue. A Border Patrol agent established surveillance south of the border and observed erratic driving before stopping the vehicle. Inside were two males identified as Quezada-Villena and Bernal-Fuentes and one female passenger identified as Medel-Garay. Immigration records showed all three lacked permission to be in the U.S. During questioning after their arrest, Bernal-Fuentes admitted he traveled with Quezada-Villena from Long Island, New York to Vermont to transport someone within the country.
On May 29, 2025, United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Medel-Garay detained pending prosecution. On May 30 and June 2, Judge Doyle released Quezada-Villena and Bernal-Fuentes on conditions pending trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office reminds that these charges are allegations only and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, Quezada-Villena and Bernal-Fuentes could face up to five years in prison; Medel-Garay could face up to six months if convicted.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the investigatory work of the United States Border Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra is prosecuting this case. Legal representation includes the Office of the Federal Public Defender for Quezada-Villena; Allan Sullivan for Bernal-Fuentes; Robert Behrens for Medel-Garay.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America which aims to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime through resources like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
