A Brazilian national, Antonio Jose De Abreu Vidal Filho, residing in Malden, Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to perjury charges in a federal court in Boston. The charges stem from false statements made on his asylum application and during an immigration hearing. De Abreu did not disclose his involvement in a case related to the murder of 11 individuals in Brazil, an incident known as The Slaughter of Curió.
De Abreu, 31, admitted guilt to two counts of perjury before U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2025. In May 2024, he was indicted by a federal grand jury.
In April 2014, De Abreu joined the Ceara State Military Police in Brazil. On November 12, 2015, he and other officers participated in a mass killing event targeting young people from impoverished neighborhoods in Ceará's capital city. This act was reportedly in retaliation for the death of another police officer defending his wife from assault.
The Brazilian authorities charged De Abreu and others with these crimes. He was arrested on August 31, 2016, but released pending trial on May 24, 2017. Shortly after his release, he applied for a U.S. non-immigrant B2 visitor visa while still in Brazil and falsely stated that he had never been arrested or convicted.
After receiving the visa on June 21, 2017, De Abreu traveled to Miami on May 30, 2018. Between then and August 14, 2023, he acquired various state driver’s licenses and employment authorizations due to his visa approval.
On January 29, 2020, De Abreu applied for asylum but lied about past accusations or arrests outside the United States. He also omitted information about his arrest when applying for status adjustment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
On June 25, 2023, De Abreu was convicted of multiple crimes including murder and torture by the First Court of Fortaleza in Ceará and sentenced to over two centuries in prison.
During an immigration hearing on February 9, 2024, De Abreu falsely testified under oath regarding previous omissions on immigration documents filed with the U.S government.
The charges against him carry potential sentences ranging up to ten years for misuse of visas and up to five years each for perjury and falsifying material facts along with fines reaching $250,000 each.
The announcement was made by several officials including United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations; Bradley Parker from Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General; Mathew O’Brien from Diplomatic Security Service; Denis C. Riordan from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; with assistance from the Interagency Human Rights Violators & War Crimes Center.
Assistant U.S Attorney Laura J Kaplan is prosecuting this case within the National Security Unit.