by VDC staff

Two men were recently sentenced in federal court in Vermont for serious offenses ranging from illegal re-entry after deportation to extensive identity theft and vehicle fraud schemes.

Venezuelan gets 2 years for illegal re-entry, drug possession 

Jorge Humberto Moreno Martinez, 34, a Venezuelan national, was sentenced on August 29 by Judge Christina Reiss to 24 months in federal prison. Moreno had previously pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after having been removed by immigration authorities.

Court documents reveal that Moreno was deported from the U.S. on November 15, 2016, following his completion of a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for a felony burglary conviction in New York. At the time of his removal, he was explicitly warned that, due to his criminal history, he was barred from re-entering the country. Despite this, Moreno returned to the U.S. unlawfully.

The case escalated on January 27, 2025, when Homeland Security agents attempted to arrest Moreno in a parking lot in Williston. According to reports, Moreno fled in his vehicle, crashing into three law enforcement vehicles and reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour on a busy street during the chase. During the pursuit, Moreno discarded items from his vehicle, some of which tested presumptively positive for cocaine base and cocaine. In his plea agreement, Moreno admitted to possessing these substances with intent to distribute.

Judge Reiss handed down the 24-month sentence in response to Moreno’s illegal re-entry and drug-related offenses, emphasizing the severity of fleeing law enforcement and involvement in drug distribution.

St. Albans man sentenced to 6 years+ for mail fraud, aggravated identity theft

In a separate case, Jonathan Whalley, 52, from St. Albans, Vermont, was sentenced on September 2 by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to 74 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Whalley had pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Court records indicate that Whalley used the stolen identity of a Vermont man to fraudulently purchase six vehicles valued at more than $224,000. The identity theft originated from a wallet stolen from the victim’s car. Whalley then traveled to Georgia, where he executed the fraudulent vehicle purchases, which included a 2022 Ford Explorer, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2022 Chevrolet Silverado, 2020 Kawasaki ATV, 2021 CF Moto ATV, and a 2022 Honda dirt bike.

In addition to vehicle fraud, Whalley engaged in deceptive dealings with banks and insurance companies. On June 8, 2022, after law enforcement stopped him in Vermont with one of the fraudulently obtained vehicles, Whalley fled, dragging an officer over ten feet and driving recklessly at speeds exceeding three times the limit, endangering pedestrians.

Judge Geraci imposed a 50-month sentence for mail fraud and a mandatory consecutive 24-month term for aggravated identity theft, totaling 74 months. The judge highlighted Whalley’s extensive criminal history, which spans 34 convictions since 1991, underscoring the defendant’s repeated disregard for the law.