Buffalo, NY – In a stark reminder of the nation’s immigration enforcement efforts, Ancelma Contreras Pano, 40, has been sentenced to two months in prison for illegal re-entry into the United States. The Mexican citizen and national pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Contreras Pano was physically removed from the United States in June 2015 but returned undeterred. On July 31, 2025, she was apprehended by Border Patrol Agents in Erie County, NY, without any legal documents allowing her presence in the country.
This case underscores the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative, which aims to repel illegal immigration and dismantle transnational criminal organizations. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo highlighted the operation’s commitment to protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith handled the case, emphasizing Contreras Pano’s alien status without legal standing in the United States. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation led by Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Upon serving her sentence, Contreras Pano will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to face further immigration-related charges.
The gritty streets of Erie County have once again witnessed the consequences of illegal re-entry, as Ancelma Contreras Pano stands sentenced for breaching the nation’s borders.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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