Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Eluding Immigration Inspection

BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for eluding inspection by immigration officers. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Encarnacion Lara Gonzalez,49, to time served (approximately three days).

According to court records, on October 4, 2026, Lara Gonzalez, a Mexican national, traveled into Canada through the Houlton port of entry. After stopping in a parking lot in Canada, he turned his vehicle around and drove back towards the U.S. At the Houlton port of entry, he drove through the inspection lane and entered the U.S. without stopping, despite clearly marked signs instructing motorists to stop. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers pursued him and he pulled over shortly afterwards.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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.

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