Two Cuban nationals pleaded guilty to illegally entering the United States near North Troy, Vermont, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced.

Adrian Santos-Miranda, 31, and Yanela Guerra-Matamoros, 36, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 9, where they entered guilty pleas to charges of entering the United States at a time or place not designated by immigration authorities.

According to court records, U.S. Border Patrol received an image of two individuals walking south from the Canadian border near Mud Creek on May 8, at approximately 3:40 p.m. The location was about two miles east of North Troy village.

Border Patrol agents tracked footprints through woods and muddy terrain, locating the defendants around 7:00 p.m. When approached, both individuals fled further into the woods before being apprehended.

Neither defendant could provide documentation allowing them to legally remain in the United States. Record checks confirmed both were Cuban citizens without legal status in the country.

Both defendants received time-served sentences after pleading guilty. They had faced maximum sentences of up to six months’ imprisonment.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime through coordinated efforts with Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

U.S. Attorney Office press release republished from Newport Dispatch