POTSDAM — A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to federal prison time Wednesday, Nov. 16 for for unlawfully transporting two Mexican citizens from Potsdam who were illegally present in the United States.

Juan Francisco Izalde-Bautista, 34, of Hershey, Pa., pled guilty in U.S. Court in the Northern District of New York in Utica and was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Acting Chief Patrol Agent Keith Hoops, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

Izalde-Bautista admitted that on Oct. 2, he drove from Hershey to Potsdam to pick up two citizens of Mexico who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States.

Izalde-Bautista also admitted that he planned to drive the two Mexican nationals to Hershey.

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.