Billings, Montana – A 35-year-old Mexican woman living in Roundup, Montana, has been sentenced in federal court after admitting she illegally returned to the United States following two previous deportations.
Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith announced that Gabriela Lopez-Castro was sentenced on Thursday to time served, after which she will be removed from the United States.
Lopez-Castro previously pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. The case was heard before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, who imposed the sentence.
Investigation followed local arrest in Musselshell County
According to court documents, federal prosecutors said Lopez-Castro had previously been deported from the United States in 2019 and again in 2024. Despite those removals, authorities determined that she had unlawfully returned to the country.
The investigation leading to the federal charge began on Feb. 4, 2026, when Lopez-Castro was arrested in Musselshell County on allegations of partner or family member assault.
During the arrest, deputies with the Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office discovered that she did not have any U.S. identification. Because of that, they contacted the Malta Border Patrol Station for assistance in determining her immigration status.
The following day, Lopez-Castro admitted to U.S. Border Patrol agents that she had reentered the United States illegally after her previous deportations, according to the government’s court filings.
Federal prosecutors subsequently charged her with illegal reentry, and she later entered a guilty plea that resolved the criminal case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation that led to the federal conviction.
Officials also noted that the case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice. The program focuses on enforcing federal immigration laws, combating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and supporting efforts aimed at reducing violent crime and strengthening public safety.
With the sentencing now complete, Lopez-Castro will receive credit for the time she has already spent in custody before being removed from the United States in accordance with the court’s order.
