A federal grand jury in Vermont has indicted Samuel Alfaro-Sanchez, a 31-year-old Mexican national, on charges of illegal reentry into the United States after being previously removed. The indictment alleges that Alfaro-Sanchez was found in the country on August 13, 2025.
Alfaro-Sanchez pleaded not guilty during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on August 28, 2025. Judge Doyle ordered that he remain detained while the case proceeds.
Court records indicate that Alfaro-Sanchez has entered the United States illegally several times. In 2008, he voluntarily returned to Mexico after being apprehended near Tucson, Arizona. He was removed from the country twice in 2018 following apprehensions near Paso Del Norte, Texas and Sasabe, Arizona. Another removal occurred in 2019 near El Paso, Texas. In September 2020, he was expelled twice after separate apprehensions near Douglas, Arizona and again expelled from the same area in 2021.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated: “An indictment contains allegations only and that Alfaro-Sanchez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” If convicted, Alfaro-Sanchez faces up to two years in prison; sentencing would be determined by a District Court judge using advisory guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case, while Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon represents Alfaro-Sanchez.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
