Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Entry Into the United States

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Lordson Mboko Mavungu, 23, a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, pleaded guilty to a criminal complaint charging him with illegally entering the United States at a time or place other than designated for entering the country by immigration authorities.

According to court records, on May 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police notified U.S. Border Patrol of two individuals with a small child that were about to cross the international border from Canada into the U.S. in the area of Guay Farm Rd in Troy, VT. U.S. Border Patrol agents drove down Guay Farm Rd and observed the individuals matching the description they had received. The three subjects were encountered shortly after crossing the border. The Border Patrol agents conducted an immigration inspection. Mavungu presented a Democratic Republic of Congo identification card. The agents determined that Mavungu had unlawfully entered the U.S. from Canada, and the agents placed Mavungu under arrest.

Mavungu had his initial court appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 5, 2025, where Mavungu pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained. On May 8, 2025, before Judge Doyle, Mavungu pleaded guilty and received a time-served sentence. Mavungu had faced up to 6 months’ imprisonment.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Mavungu is represented by Lisa B. Shelkrot, Esq.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).