Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 13, 2025, Joshua Ian Fudge, 30, a citizen of Canada, and his wife Karen Melissa Rodriguez Valverde, 24, a citizen of Costa Rica, both pled guilty to criminal complaints charging them, with illegally entering the United States at a time or place other than designated for entering the country by immigration authorities, and were sentenced to time-served. They each faced a maximum prison term of 6 months.

According to court records, at approximately 2:55 p.m. on June 12, 2025, electronic surveillance spotted two individuals with backpacks on "Pee Wee's" bridge in Canaan, Vermont. "Pee Wee's" bridge is approximately 150 feet from the U.S./Canada border and is commonly used to illegally cross into the United States. U.S. Border Patrol agents made contact with the individuals less than five minutes after the electronic surveillance alert. Fudge and Rodriguez Valverde provided identification to Border Patrol agents that confirmed that Fudge was a Canadian citizen and that Rodriguez Valverde was a citizen of Costa Rica who was a lawful permanent resident of Canada. Following a review of immigration records for Fudge and Rodriguez Valverde, Border Patrol agents discovered that on November 4, 2024, Fudge was deemed inadmissible and denied access to the United States at Newark International Airport after he stated to agents during pre-entry questioning that he had previously traveled to New Jersey to work with Rodriguez Valverde's father and had been paid for that work. Fudge did not possess an immigrant visa that allowed him to work in the United States.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the efforts of the United States Border Patrol and United States Customs and Border Protection.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Fudge was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq. Rodriguez Valverde is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.

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).