BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Khvicha Chalisuri, 63, a Canadian citizen and native of Georgia, pleaded guilty to bringing an alien to the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the complaints, in the early morning hours of June 24, 2026, defendant Chalisuri was encountered at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry seeking entry to the United States in a commercial truck. Chalisuri was asked if anyone else was in the truck and he said no. Chalisuri was then referred to X-ray to have the truck and cargo scanned. During the scan of the truck, an officer noticed Alexandru-Stefanita Iordache, a citizen and national of the country of Romania, standing in the sleeper portion of the cab. He was removed from the truck. Subsequent investigation determined that Iordache, who was living in Canada, has no authorization for lawful entry to the United States. When questioned, Chalisuri claimed that Iordache was his codriver and that he was sleeping in the truck. However, Iordache was not listed on the manifest and was not presented to officers for inspection.
Alexandru-Stefanita Iordache was previously convicted and sentenced.
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.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald. The plea is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Western District of New York — U.S. Department of Justice press release.