CANAAN — U.S. Border Patrol Agents say they arrested a Spanish citizen who crossed the Vermont-Canadian border near Canaan on Monday evening.
A Criminal Complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Burlington alleges that at approximately 6:30 p.m. on March 21, a concerned citizen reported a man hiding in the woods near her home.
Agents responded to the area and encountered 21-year-old Cristian Aquino-Montillo.
He claimed to be a citizen of Spain but could not produce any documentation allowing to enter or be present in the United States.
They arrested Aquino-Montillo and transported him to the Beecher Falls station for further investigation.
Record checks confirmed that Aquino-Montillo is a citizen of Spain. The checks also revealed that he is a permanent resident of the Dominican Republic. He was removed to the Dominican Republic on July 15, 2014, because he remained in the United States after his tourist visa expired.
The Criminal Complaint charged Aquino-Montillo with re-entry after removal. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 2 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Aquino-Montillo also faces removal from the United States and a bar to re-entry.
“We rely upon local residents to report suspicious activity near the border,” said Patrol Agent in Charge Paul Kuhn. “This information prevented a felon from entering the United States.”
United States Attorney Eric S. Miller commended the investigative efforts of the United States Border Patrol.
