Repeat Border Crosser Valdes-De Jesus Gets Time Served

GREAT FALLS, MT – Odilon Valdes-De Jesus, 55, a Mexican national with a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration law, received a sentence of time served today after pleading guilty to one count of illegal reentry. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentencing, but the leniency – coupled with immediate handover to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol – raises questions about the true deterrent effect of federal penalties in repeat border crossing cases.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case, detailing a pattern of brazen border breaches. Court documents reveal Valdes-De Jesus first slipped into the country illegally in 2019. Within a 72-hour period, he was apprehended three times by El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents, swiftly removed each time through the Calexico, California Port of Entry. The government laid out the timeline: October 3rd, 2019 – initial encounter and processing for expedited removal; October 4th, 2019 – removal from the U.S.; October 5th, 2019 – illegal reentry and second removal; October 6th, 2019 – second removal; October 8th, 2019 – third illegal entry; October 9th, 2019 – third removal.

The cycle didn’t stop there. Valdes-De Jesus again entered the U.S. illegally around July 15, 2020, this time near Eagle Pass, Texas. He managed to evade detection for over four years until a May 13, 2025 encounter with law enforcement in Havre, Montana. When questioned, Valdes-De Jesus admitted to having no legal right to be in the United States and confessed to the fourth unauthorized entry.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers prosecuted the case, with the investigation spearheaded by the U.S. Border Patrol. While Valdes-De Jesus faced federal charges, the sentence – time served, essentially acknowledging time already spent in custody awaiting trial – feels remarkably soft given the repeated violations. Critics will undoubtedly point to this as another example of a system struggling to effectively address the ongoing border crisis.

This case is being touted as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a broad Department of Justice initiative aimed at curbing illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and protecting communities. The operation intends to combine the resources of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). However, the outcome in Valdes-De Jesus’s case does little to inspire confidence in the program’s ability to deliver on its ambitious goals.

The immediate transfer of Valdes-De Jesus back into CBP custody suggests authorities are prioritizing rapid deportation over long-term incarceration. Whether this approach will deter others from attempting similar border crossings remains to be seen. Grimy Times will continue to monitor federal prosecutions related to border security and report on the effectiveness of “Operation Take Back America.”