by Bryan Marovich, for the Newport Dispatch
DERBY LINE — U.S. Border Patrol apprehended seven people who unlawfully crossed the Canadian border in North Troy and Derby Line between December 23 and December 25, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced.
Border Patrol detected an unlawful entry at approximately 7 a.m. on December 23, near North Troy. An agent responded and determined from signs in the snow that approximately five people had traveled southbound. The agent followed the trail and discovered a group walking toward the village. When directed to stop, the group scattered and fled. Over the next hour, Border Patrol agents tracked and apprehended five people.
Joneyker Rafael Ramos Guillen, 20, of Venezuela, was charged with bringing people to the United States who lacked official authorization to enter, including Byron Guillermo Gonzabay Giron, 47, of Ecuador; Lixia Nong, 23, of China; Zhongyue Xiang, 62, of Portugal; and a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor from Brazil. Gonzabay Giron, Nong and Xiang were charged with illegal entry into the United States.
Two additional unlawful crossings occurred in Derby Line on December 25. Shortly after midnight, Benjamin Paul Sheldon Schooner, 35, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, crossed the international border on foot in front of the Haskell Library. At approximately 6:45 p.m., Abelardo Gamboa-Penaloza, 30, of Mexico, crossed the international border on foot near Lee Street. Both were charged with illegal entry.
On December 29, Guillen and Schooner appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered both held pending detention hearings. Gonzabay Giron and Gamboa-Penaloza appeared before Judge Doyle on December 30, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to time served. Nong and Xiang are scheduled for initial appearances December 31.
Nong, Xiang and Schooner face up to six months in prison if convicted. Ramos Guillen faces up to 10 years if convicted. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative addressing illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.