Seven Romanian Nationals Charged with Immigration Offenses in Montana

GREAT FALLS – In a shocking turn of events, seven Romanian nationals accused of crossing illegally from Canada into Montana appeared in court yesterday for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The accused, Ionut Gheorghe, 27, and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe, 32, pleaded not guilty to transporting illegal aliens, which, if convicted, carries a maximum punishment of five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Adi Marinescu Gheorghe was also charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien, which is punishable by two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

The other five defendants, Mihai Mahaela, 40, Sorin Sandu, 45, Conte Nicolae, 19, Alin Amadeus Musuroi, 23, and Lacrimoara Nicolae, 51, each pleaded not guilty to illegal entry of an alien. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to six months in prison, fined $100,000, and placed on supervised release for one year.

Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided over the arraignment. All seven defendants were detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Ionut Gheorghe and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe were each driving a van on April 25, 2025. The other defendants were passengers in the vans, which the U.S. Border Patrol detected illegally crossing into the United States at approximately 2:30 a.m. Law enforcement located the vans traveling south on I-15, stopped the vehicles, took the occupants into custody, and transported them to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing. In total, the two vans contained 21 men, women, and children.

The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, and the United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. government to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Ionut Gheorghe, Adi Marinescu Gheorghe, Mihai Mahaela, Sorin Sandu, Conte Nicolae, Alin Amadeus Musuroi, Lacrimoara Nicolae

Criminal Charges: Transporting illegal aliens, illegal reentry of a removed alien, illegal entry of an alien

City and State: GREAT FALLS, Montana

Exact Date: April 25, 2025

Sentence or Outcome: Detained pending further proceedings

Dollar Amounts: $250,000 fine, $100,000 fine

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Human Trafficking

Jalal Adeeb, Human Trafficking, New Mexico 2026

Mar 26, 2026

Human Trafficking

Habtom Merhay, Human Smuggling, California 2014

Sep 24, 2014

Human Trafficking

Kevin Salguero-Chacon, Transportation of an Illegal Alien, Arizona 2026

Feb 20, 2026

Human Trafficking

Pedro Velasco-Manzano, Human Trafficking, California 2017

Jul 10, 2017