A Venezuelan man, Jorge Humberto Moreno Martinez, 34, was sentenced to 24 months in prison on August 29, 2025, for being in the United States illegally after a prior removal by immigration officials. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss in Burlington, Vermont.
Moreno had previously been removed from the U.S. on November 15, 2016, following a three-and-a-half-year prison term for a New York felony burglary conviction. At that time, he was informed and acknowledged that his criminal record barred him from re-entering or attempting to enter the country. Despite this warning, Moreno returned to the U.S., violating federal law.
According to court records, Department of Homeland Security agents attempted to arrest Moreno in Williston, Vermont on January 27, 2025. During the incident, Moreno fled in a vehicle and struck three law enforcement vehicles before speeding at over 100 miles per hour on a busy street. Items discarded from his vehicle were later recovered and tested positive for cocaine base and cocaine. In his plea agreement, Moreno admitted possessing these substances with intent to distribute.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher said: “I commend the investigatory efforts of the United States Department of Homeland Security, including its Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ERO”), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP”) divisions, with assistance from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).”
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Gilman while Brooks G. McArthur represented Moreno.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative using resources from agencies such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)—which aims to address illegal immigration and combat transnational criminal organizations.
