MISSOULA, MT – Eduardo Heriberto Mendoza-Almanza, 40, is staring down a decade in federal prison after admitting today to illegally reentering the United States. The Mexican national’s rap sheet reads like a revolving door, having been deported from this country a staggering eight times before his latest run-in with the law.
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the guilty plea to the charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien. Mendoza-Almanza faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a hefty $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The case was heard before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto, with U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen slated to hand down the final sentence on December 10, 2025.
The arrest unfolded on April 6, 2025, in Belgrade, Montana, when a local officer pulled Mendoza-Almanza over for a simple equipment violation – a missing license plate light. It quickly escalated. He presented a Mexican driver’s license and was discovered to have a suspended Montana license and a revoked New Mexico license. A check also revealed a pile of active warrants. He was initially booked on charges of driving without a license.
But the driving offense was merely a footnote to a much larger pattern. Court documents reveal Mendoza-Almanza was previously removed from the U.S. on March 6, 2006; February 2, 2007; February 22, 2007; February 25, 2007; May 11, 2007; January 11, 2008; June 18, 2011; and most recently, September 5, 2023. He was even convicted of felony illegal reentry in this same court – the District of Montana, Missoula Division – on March 15, 2023, receiving time served and subsequent removal. No legal permission to return was ever sought or granted.
This prosecution is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide Justice Department initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations. The operation leverages resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to border security and repeat offenders like Mendoza-Almanza. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leading the investigation.
Mendoza-Almanza remains detained pending sentencing. Whether the judge will show leniency given his extensive history of illegal reentry remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the federal government is sending a message – repeatedly violating immigration laws carries serious consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.
Related Federal Cases
- Repeat Offender Salvador-Quino Gets Time-Served, Deported · Texas
- Repeat Offender Torres-Torres Gets Time-Served, Deported · Montana
- Eduardo Mendoza-Almanza Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry · New Mexico
- Repeat Offender: Deported Again After Brief Montana Stint · Texas
- Repeat Border Crosser Valdes-De Jesus Gets Time Served · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized Crime