The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Van Hoa Phung, 49, and Reason Phung, 18, both Canadian citizens, pleaded guilty on June 6, 2025. They faced charges related to illegally entering the United States at undesignated locations or through false statements.
Court records indicate that on June 5, 2025, around 2:35 p.m., U.S. Border Patrol observed a man crossing from Canada into the U.S. near the Haskell Free Library in Derby Line, Vermont. This location is not an authorized entry point as per immigration authorities.
After crossing into the U.S., this individual entered a Red Tesla vehicle as a passenger. The car was stopped by Border Patrol agents in Derby, Vermont. The driver was identified as Reason Phung and his passenger as Van Hoa Phung. The description of Van Hoa matched that of the person who crossed the border illegally.
Further investigation revealed that earlier Reason Phung had legally crossed into the U.S. alone through a port of entry in Derby, Vermont with his vehicle. He admitted to dropping off his father at the library and then re-entering to pick him up after his illegal crossing.
During his initial legal entry at the port, Reason stated he intended to visit grandparents; however, he later confessed this statement was false since his real purpose was transporting his father back to Canada after picking him up.
Both individuals appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on June 6 and received time-served sentences after pleading guilty.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher acknowledged the efforts of U.S. Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Stendig is prosecuting while Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels represents Van Hoa Phung and Robert Behrens represents Reason Phung.
This incident is part of Operation Take Back America aimed at combating illegal immigration and organized crime across borders using Department of Justice resources like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
