GREAT FALLS, MT – Francisco Alcocer-Sanchez, 62, a Mexican national, is back in the hands of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol after receiving a 131-day sentence for possession of fraudulent immigration documents. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris, concludes a case rooted in a routine traffic stop that exposed a decades-old pattern of deception and a prior felony conviction.
The trouble began on February 28, 2025, when Alcocer-Sanchez was pulled over for suspected drunk driving near Fairview, Montana, stretching into McKenzie County, North Dakota. During the stop, he presented an expired Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) card. Law enforcement quickly flagged inconsistencies – the card bore Alcocer-Sanchez’s photo, but listed a different name and alien number, and lacked key security features. A deeper dive confirmed their suspicions: Alcocer-Sanchez’s true identity and the fact he’d been previously deported from the United States.
Court documents reveal a complicated history. Alcocer-Sanchez was initially granted Lawful Permanent Resident status back in 1991. However, that status was revoked in 1998 following a conviction for importing cocaine – an “aggravated felony” that triggered his removal. Crucially, there’s no record of Alcocer-Sanchez ever attempting to legally re-enter the United States, leading authorities to believe he’d been living in the country illegally for years.
Alcocer-Sanchez pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of use or possession of fraudulent immigration document. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme’s office prosecuted the case, relying on a joint investigation led by the U.S. Border Patrol, the Fairview Police Department, and the McKenzie North Dakota Sheriff’s Office. The quick work of local and federal agencies exposed the scheme and brought Alcocer-Sanchez to justice.
This case isn’t being treated as an isolated incident. It’s part of “Operation Take Back America,” a sweeping federal initiative aimed at bolstering border security, dismantling drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting American communities from violent crime. The operation leverages resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood.
With his 131-day sentence served, Alcocer-Sanchez is now back in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, presumably to face deportation proceedings. The incident serves as a stark reminder that attempts to circumvent immigration laws, particularly by those with prior criminal records, will be met with swift and decisive action by federal authorities.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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