Brazilian Man Pleads Guilty and Sentenced on Charges of Escape From Federal Custody

BOSTON - A Brazilian man residing in Framingham pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to escaping from federal custody.

Victor Rodrigues De Moura-Pereria, 20, pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024 before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy, who sentenced Rodrigues to time-served (approximately five weeks in prison) to be followed by one year of supervised release. Rodrigues was subsequently transferred into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings.

In September 2021, Rodrigues was arrested in Arizona after unlawfully entering the United States. He was subsequently placed into removal proceeding in October 2021 but failed to report and was considered an absconder.

On Feb. 25, 2024, in Framingham, Rodrigues was approached by local law enforcement due to an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Rodrigues ignored officers' commands and resisted arrest. Rodrigues was then transferred into the custody of federal immigration officials.

On Feb. 26, 2024, while being transported to the Wyatt Detention Center where he was to be detained while in custody of immigration authorities, Rodrigues made numerous attempts to escape. Specifically - while placed in full restraints and seated in the prisoner compartment of the transport van - Rodrigues attempted to unlock the passenger side door by pulling on the lock pin with his teeth. Rodrigues then forced his body through a small gap between the vehicle's rear cage and passenger side window and into the vehicle's storage compartment, where he pulled the emergency release pull tab, opened the rear door and jumped out onto the highway when the vehicle entered standstill traffic. After exiting the transport van, Rodrigues ran down the middle of the highway and disappeared.

Responding law enforcement subsequently located Rodrigues hiding inside a wooden fenced area behind a building in Waltham, approximately a quarter mile from where he exited the vehicle.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Waltham Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.