GREAT FALLS — Two people accused of harboring and re-entry appeared in federal court in Great Falls for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said in a news release on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Kristin Louise Mitchell (aka Kristin Louise Short) of Shelby, 41 years old, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with attempted harboring of illegal aliens. If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, Mitchell faces five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Carlos Alexis Ponce-Lopez of Honduras, 33, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with re-entry of removed alien. If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, Ponce-Lopez faces two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on March 4, 2025, near Shelby, Mitchell attempted to conceal, harbor, and shield from detection three illegal aliens and took a substantial step toward the commission of that offense.
Ponce-Lopez is charged in count 2 of the indictment with illegal reentry of a removed alien near Billings on February 21, 2025. The indictment alleges Ponce-Lopez is a citizen of Honduras, was removed from the United States in August 2014, and reentered the country without the permission of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. Mitchell was released on conditions, and Ponce-Lopez was detained pending further proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Border Patrol, Montana Highway Patrol, and Toole County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
The news release notes that the charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
(MARCH 24, 2025) The US Border Patrol-Havre Sector announced recently that agents apprehended a person involved in the smuggling of what it called "three illegal aliens." The arrest happened on March 4, 2025.
The agency said the three illegal aliens have been identified as Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members.
The US Department of the Treasury said several months ago of TdA:
From its origins as a prison gang in Aragua, Venezuela, Tren de Aragua has quickly expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere in recent years. With a particular focus on human smuggling and other illicit acts that target desperate migrants, the organization has developed additional revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, such as illegal mining, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, and the trafficking of illicit drugs such as cocaine and MDMA.
The alleged smuggler, a US citizen, will be prosecuted for "bringing in and harboring illegal aliens," per 8 USC 1324. The illegal aliens will be charged with "improper entry by alien" and "re-entry of removed aliens," per 8 USC 1324 and 8 USC 1326.
The agency did not release the names of any of the people involved.
(UPDATE, APRIL 16) Charges of illegal entry by an alien against two of the people have been dismissed without prejudice by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who order states:
On April 2, 2025, the Grand Jury returned an indictment against four defendants in this case. Counts 3 and 4 of the indictment allege that defendants Suarez and Diaz-Rivas unlawfully entered the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1325.
Since the indictment was filed, the United States has determined that venue for the crimes charged in counts 3 and 4 are not proper in Montana.
Accordingly, the United States moves the court to dismiss counts 3 and 4 of the indictment.
