CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a stunning turn of events, Maximino Montalvo Salas, 20, a Mexican national living in the United States illegally, has pleaded guilty to felony charges related to possession of a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card. The Charleston native was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials apprehended Salas on March 28, 2025, in Charleston. ICE agents confirmed that Salas is an unauthorized Mexican citizen who used a counterfeit Immigration Form I-551 to secure employment in the U.S.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the conviction and praised the efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The investigation was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
The sentence imposed by Judge Goodwin is a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who engage in fraudulent immigration activities. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case on behalf of the Southern District of West Virginia.
Operation Take Back America, an initiative of the Department of Justice, leverages resources from various task forces to combat illegal immigration and related crimes, ensuring community safety and enforcing federal immigration laws.
A full copy of this press release is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia. Detailed court documents can be accessed through PACER by searching Case No. 2:25-cr-83.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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