GREAT FALLS, MT — A Mexican man who lived illegally in the United States for 27 years after being deported for drug trafficking was sentenced Monday in federal court in Great Falls to time served for possessing fraudulent immigration documents.
Francisco Alcocer-Sanchez, 62, received a sentence of 131 days in prison and will be remanded to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol upon release, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
Alcocer-Sanchez pleaded guilty in May to one count of use or possession of fraudulent immigration document. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing.
The case began Feb. 28 when Fairview Police and McKenzie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Alcocer-Sanchez during a DUI stop. He presented an expired permanent resident card bearing his photograph but containing another person’s name and alien registration number.
Law enforcement noticed the card was missing standard security features. The following day, authorities verified Alcocer-Sanchez’s true identity and discovered his prior removal from the United States.
Court documents reveal Alcocer-Sanchez was granted lawful permanent resident status on Feb. 12, 1991, but lost that status on June 25, 1998, following his conviction for importing cocaine, classified as an aggravated felony under immigration law.
Records show no evidence he applied for readmission to the United States after his deportation, meaning he remained in the country illegally for nearly three decades.
The sophisticated document fraud involved using his own photograph on a legitimate-looking permanent resident card but with fabricated identifying information, according to federal prosecutors.
During questioning, Alcocer-Sanchez acknowledged his Mexican citizenship and admitted to his illegal status in the United States.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol, Fairview Police Department and McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. The operation combines resources from the department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood programs.
The Fairview arrest demonstrates how routine traffic stops can uncover federal immigration violations, particularly in Montana’s border communities where local law enforcement collaborates with federal agencies.
Immigration attorneys note that individuals previously removed for aggravated felonies face severe penalties for illegal re-entry, including lengthy federal prison sentences and permanent bars from legal immigration status.