Wanted Brazilian national deported from the US

Resided in Bridgeport; wanted in connection with the murder of a mayor of a Brazilian city

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Brazilian national residing in Bridgeport, who was wanted in his home country for his involvement in a double homicide, was turned over to Brazilian law enforcement authorities this morning in Rio De Janeiro. He was removed from the United States by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). This individual was originally identified after ERO obtained a law enforcement tip from the Bridgeport Police Department.

Isaias Goncalves Dos Santos, 31, was arrested by ERO officers in Bridgeport Jan. 31, 2012. He remained in ERO custody until his removal today.

The Bridgeport Police Department had notified ERO that they suspected Dos Santos, who had an Interpol Red Notice out for his arrest, was residing in Bridgeport. According to the Interpol Red Notice, Dos Santos allegedly devised a plan that executed the mayor of São Sebastião do Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mayor Gomes Gildeci Sampaio, and his friend, were both killed in the kitchen of the mayor's home Oct. 13, 2009. Interpol and HSI's assistant attaché in Brasilia, Brazil, confirmed the biographical details and photographic facial identifiers with Brazilian authorities, which confirmed that Dos Santos was indeed wanted by their government.

An Interpol Red Notice is used to alert law enforcement agencies in member countries that arrest warrants have been issued and extradition will be sought for the fugitives. Being the subject of this type of notice is not a presumption of guilt. Interpol is the world's largest international police organization with 190 member countries. It serves as a facilitator of international police cooperation.

"Thanks to our excellent partnership with the Bridgeport Police Department, we have ensured that this individual will be prosecuted for his alleged crimes in Brazil," said Dorothy Herrera-Niles, field office director for ERO Boston. Herrera-Niles oversees ERO throughout New England. "His arrest and removal should serve as a reminder to foreign fugitives who mistakenly believe they can elude justice by fleeing to this country. ICE will continue to work closely with its foreign law enforcement counterparts not only to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions, but to safeguard the rights of law-abiding citizens here and overseas."

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with HSI's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

HSI Nogales Special Agent Pleads Guilty to Obstruction and Other Federal Violations

TUCSON, AZ—On February 1, 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Jovana Deas, 33, of Rio Rico, Ariz., entered a guilty plea before visiting United States Magistrate Judge E.S. Swearingen to all 21 counts of an indictment.

At the change of plea hearing, Deas admitted to abusing her position as an HSI special agent to illegally obtain and disseminate government documents classified as Official Use Only. Some of the sensitive information Deas unlawfully accessed was later discovered on a laptop computer of her former brother-in-law by law enforcement in Brazil. Her brother-in-law is associated with a drug trafficking organization in Mexico, which has ties to drug traffickers in Brazil. Deas further admitted that she illegally accessed, stole, and transferred sensitive U.S. government documents to unauthorized individuals, and that she obstructed HSI investigations. Deas also admitted that she lied to an HSI special agent when asked why she was making computer inquiries about a specific person who was a target of another agent.

Deas’ guilty plea included a total of seven felony violations, each punishable by up to five years in prison, and 14 misdemeanors, each punishable by up to one year in prison.

Deas became a U.S. government employee in June, 2003, as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to the Nogales, Ariz. port of entry. In 2008, she became an HSI special agent assigned to the HSI Nogales office.

The indictment to which Deas pleaded guilty also charges her sister, Dana Maria Samaniego Montes, 40, of Agua Prieta, Mexico with violations of federal law. Samaniego Montes is a fugitive believed to be residing in Mexico. She is a former Mexican law enforcement official with alleged ties to drug trafficking organizations.

Deas is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2012, before United States District Court Judge Cindy Jorgenson.

The investigation of Deas was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) agents at the FBI’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force (SACTF). SACTF agents were assisted in this investigation by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Department’s Consular Integrity Division, and the Brazilian Federal Police. The prosecution of Deas is being handled by James T. Lacey, an assistant U.S. attorney in Tucson.

ICE returns fugitive wanted for murder in Brazil

MIAMI - A Brazilian national wanted by law enforcement authorities in his native country for murder was turned over to Brazilian law enforcement authorities today by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Miami.

Geraldo Ricardo Miranda, 44, departed Miami International Airport in Miami on Monday and was turned over to authorities Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 12.

Miranda had been a fugitive from the authorities since December 2003, when the Brazilian court issued an arrest warrant for qualified homicide. Brazilian law enforcement had issued an Interpol notice for his arrest.

In April of 2010 ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested Miranda for federal criminal violations related to making false statements in a passport application and for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. In September 2010 Miranda was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison. On May 31, he was released from the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and transferred to the custody of ICE ERO for removal proceedings.

An immigration judge subsequently ordered Miranda to be removed from the United States on June 10.

"Returning this fugitive to Brazil is a prime example of how ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries for allegedly committing crimes," said Marc J. Moore, field office director for ICE ERO in Miami. "ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens. As a result, our communities are safer and more secure."

ICE ERO Miami coordinated the removal of Ricardo Miranda with the ICE Attaché office in Brasilia and the Brazilian Federal Police.

HSI Nogales Special Agent Arrested During Federal Corruption Investigation

TUCSON, AZ—Federal authorities arrested a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Tuesday after an investigation revealed she illegally accessed, stole and transferred sensitive U.S. government documents to family members and associates with strong ties to drug trafficking organizations.

Jovana Samaniego Deas, 33, of Rio Rico, Ariz. is charged with computer fraud, theft of government records and making false statements/entries in a 12-count federal indictment issued on April 28 by the U.S. District Court in Tucson. She is accused of abusing her position as an HSI special agent to illegally obtain and disseminate government documents classified as Official Use Only. Three of the counts include felony violations, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

“When it comes to our national security, blood is not thicker than water,” said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. "This defendant used and abused her position as a special agent to illegally help family members south of the border with ties to drug trafficking organizations. That is a violation of the public’s trust and a breach of our security that, thanks to this very thorough joint investigation, will have serious consequences.”

Terri Tollefson, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility West added, “We hold our employees to the highest standards of professional and personal integrity. Guarding against illegal or unethical behavior is not an option; it is an obligation we have to the American people we serve. We will not tolerate criminal misconduct, especially acts involving public corruption, and will hold our employees accountable for betraying the public’s trust.”

Deas made her initial appearance on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernardo Velasco and was released on bond.

Deas became a U.S. government employee in June 2003 as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a Nogales, Ariz., port of entry. In 2008, she became a special agent at the HSI Nogales office.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The two-year investigation of Deas was conducted by FBI and ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) agents at the FBI’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force (SACTF). SACTF agents were assisted in this investigation by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, HSI, the U.S. State Department’s Consular Integrity Division and the Brazilian Federal Police. The prosecution of Deas is being handled by James T. Lacey, an assistant U.S. attorney in Tucson.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-1572-TUC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-115(Deas)

HSI Nogales Special Agent Arrested During Federal Corruption Investigation

TUCSON, AZ—Federal authorities arrested a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Tuesday after an investigation revealed she illegally accessed, stole and transferred sensitive U.S. government documents to family members and associates with strong ties to drug trafficking organizations.

Jovana Samaniego Deas, 33, of Rio Rico, Ariz. is charged with computer fraud, theft of government records and making false statements/entries in a 12-count federal indictment issued on April 28 by the U.S. District Court in Tucson. She is accused of abusing her position as an HSI special agent to illegally obtain and disseminate government documents classified as Official Use Only. Three of the counts include felony violations, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

“When it comes to our national security, blood is not thicker than water,” said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. "This defendant used and abused her position as a special agent to illegally help family members south of the border with ties to drug trafficking organizations. That is a violation of the public’s trust and a breach of our security that, thanks to this very thorough joint investigation, will have serious consequences.”

Terri Tollefson, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility West added, “We hold our employees to the highest standards of professional and personal integrity. Guarding against illegal or unethical behavior is not an option; it is an obligation we have to the American people we serve. We will not tolerate criminal misconduct, especially acts involving public corruption, and will hold our employees accountable for betraying the public’s trust.”

Deas made her initial appearance on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernardo Velasco and was released on bond.

Deas became a U.S. government employee in June 2003 as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a Nogales, Ariz., port of entry. In 2008, she became a special agent at the HSI Nogales office.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The two-year investigation of Deas was conducted by FBI and ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) agents at the FBI’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force (SACTF). SACTF agents were assisted in this investigation by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, HSI, the U.S. State Department’s Consular Integrity Division and the Brazilian Federal Police. The prosecution of Deas is being handled by James T. Lacey, an assistant U.S. attorney in Tucson.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-1572-TUC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-115(Deas)

Prison guard accused of torturing prisoners deported to Brazil

ALEXANDRIA, La. - A man wanted for torturing prisoners in Brazil in 2005 was deported on Tuesday and turned over to Brazilian authorities Wednesday morning by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Helio Nogueira-Santos, 44, a citizen of Brazil, was transported via commercial airline and turned over to authorities April 27 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In October 2003, Nogueira-Santos, worked as a jailer at Francisco Floriano De Paula Penitentiary, located in the city of Govemador Valadares, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. He allegedly tortured insurgent prisoners, causing grave bodily injuries to some prisoners, and causing the death of a prisoner.

"ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries for allegedly committing heinous crimes," said Philip Miller, field office director of ICE ERO in New Orleans. "We will not allow criminal aliens to use the United States as a safe haven from their crimes." Miller oversees a five-state area comprised of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Nogueira-Santos illegally entered the United States on June 27, 2004, at or near Hidalgo, Texas, without being admitted or paroled by an immigration officer. ICE fugitive operations officers arrested Nogueira-Santos after an investigation revealed his location in the United States.

The removal was coordinated with the following ICE programs: the ICE Office of International Police Affairs, ICE Attaché Brazil, ICE Flight Operations, and the ICE Office of Chief Counsel in New Orleans.

ICE deports international fugitive wanted for murder in Brazil

MIAMI - A Brazilian national, who is wanted for a 1991 murder, was deported on Tuesday by local officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Joao de Oliveira, 51, was charged in January 1997 for the murder of Absolon Ferreira de Souza. According to the arrest warrant, on April 15, 1991, De Oliveira and the victim had an altercation outside a bar, which resulted in De Oliveira fatally shooting de Souza with a .22-caliber handgun.

"Returning this fugitive to Brazil is a prime example of how ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries for allegedly committing heinous crimes," said Marc Moore, field office director for ICE ERO in Miami. "ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and as a result, our communities are safer and more secure."

ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested De Oliveira in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on March 26, 2009. He entered ICE custody at the Krome Detention Center on April 2, 2009.

ICE ERO Miami coordinated De Oliveira's deportation with Brazilian Federal Police, and with the ICE Attaché office in Brazil.

De Oliveira originally entered the United States on an unknown date and at an unknown location without permission.