January 24, 2008

MONTREAL MEN SENTENCED FOR ALIEN SMUGGLING

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Gennaro Battista, 22, and Salvi Montalto, 22, both of Montreal, Quebec, were sentenced on January 23, 2008, in United States District Court in Rutland Vermont, to serve one (1) year on probation following their guilty pleas to knowingly transporting illegal aliens within the United States. United States District Judge J. Garvan Murtha also ordered that Battista and Montalto each pay a $100 special assessment.

According to court records, on June 19, 2007, the two defendants were apprehended by agents with the United States Border Patrol after they entered the United States without inspection. Inside the rental car they were driving, agents discovered two Pakistani nationals whom the defendants were attempting to smuggle into the United States.

The case was investigated by agents with the United States Border Patrol. Mr. Battista was represented by Nancy Waples of Hoff, Curtis in Burlington. Mr. Montalto was represented by Eric Miller of Sheehey, Furlong & Behm in Burlington. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Masterson.