Three Chilean Nationals Charged with Immigration Offenses

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Jose Quezada-Villena, 30, and Kevin Bernal-Fuentes, 25, both of Chile, have been charged by criminal complaint with transporting Jeanne Marie Medel-Garay, 46, also from Chile, who had just entered the United States illegally by crossing into the country from Canada without passing through a port of entry, and who has been charged with illegal entry into the United States.

According to court documents, during the evening of May 27, 2025, the United States Border Patrol received a report that a landowner near the U.S./Canada border had observed a single female crossing into the United States from Canada at a location other than a Port of Entry in Derby Line, Vermont. The female had been picked up by a silver Nissan Rogue. Based on this information a United States Border Patrol agent established surveillance a few miles south of the border where he observed the Nissan driving erratically before conducting a traffic stop. During the stop, law enforcement encountered two males in the front of the car, later identified as Quezada-Villena and Bernal-Fuentes, and a single female passenger in the back, later identified as Medel-Garay. A subsequent review of immigration records revealed that all three individuals lacked permission to be in the United States. During a post-arrest interview, Bernal-Fuentes admitted to traveling to Vermont from Long Island, New York, with Quezada-Villena for the purpose of picking up and transporting an individual within the United States.

On May 29, 2025, United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Medel-Garay detained during the pendency of her prosecution. On May 30 and June 2, Judge Doyle ordered that Quezada-Villena and Bernal-Fuentes, respectively, be released on conditions pending trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Quezada-Villena and Bernal-Fuentes face up to five years’ incarceration if convicted. Their actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Medel-Garay faces up to six months’ incarceration if convicted.

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

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Quezada-Villena is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. Bernal-Fuentes is represented by Allan Sullivan, Esq. Medel-Garay is represented by Robert Behrens, 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).