One of the world’s most wanted illegal immigrants has been captured in New Hampshire after being sentenced to 275 years in prison for his part in a massacre.
Antonio Jose De Abreu Vidal Filho was apprehended Monday by immigration officials in Rye, New Hampshire, after fleeing to the United States in 2019.
The former Brazilian military police officer was involved in the 2015 Curio Massacre, the murder of 11 people, including teenagers, following the death of a police officer.
Filho, 29, was tried and sentenced in June this year, with a board of judges in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil, handing him a prison sentence of 275 years and 11 months for his part in the murders.
In a commentary on the case, the Boston herald said, “No one should fear unscreened criminals crossing the border and being protected from deportation by the ‘good people’ who view law enforcement as agents against democracy.”
Filho, pictured here, was detained by immigration officials in Rye, New Hampshire, after fleeing Brazil with his family in 2019
Filho had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, classifying him as wanted for murder, attempted murder, physical torture and mental torture.
An Interpol message serves as an internationally wanted message and provides information on the identification of fugitives charged with or convicted of serious crimes and who have fled prosecution or are serving their sentences.
It remains unclear how immigration officials tracked him to Rye, New Hampshire, or his activities there.
According to the Brazilian outlet El Globehe moved to the US with his family after leaving the military police force.
Filho was one of four officers collectively sentenced to more than 1,000 years behind bars for the murders, after attending the trial remotely.
El Globo said the killings were in retaliation for the death of a Brazilian police officer in Fortaleza.
Some of the murder victims were teenagers who had only been charged with minor offenses.
Four of the dead were under the age of 18 and three were between the ages of 18 and 19.
A resident previously told Globo that uniformed police officers had raided homes and dragged people onto the streets.
They told the outlet, “They dragged him out of the house and shot him and another friend of his who was already on the floor outside.”
Filho had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, classifying him as wanted for murder, attempted murder, physical torture and mental torture
In an editorial The Boston Herald said, “If you hear progressives say it, illegal immigrants are all good people who want a better life for themselves and their families.
Most are, but it is those who bring their criminal past across the border that necessitate vigilance.
Although New Hampshire has no sanctuary cities, the idea has been discussed in the legislature, most recently in the form of a bill to ban them.
“The NH Senate passed the bill, but the House rejected it.”
In March of this year, Republicans in the New Hampshire State House banned new cities and counties from adopting a policy of refuges.
In neighboring Massachusetts, the state currently has eight sanctuary cities, including Boston.
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers in Boston took Filho without incident, they said.
He must remain in the custody of Immigration and Customs pending a hearing before a federal immigration judge.
ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons said, “The capture of this highly dangerous foreign fugitive is an outstanding example of the professionalism and expertise of ERO Boston officers.
“We are proud to have taken this notorious criminal, convicted of participating in multiple gruesome murders in Brazil, off our streets.
“The dedication of ERO Boston agents has once again made our communities safer with this arrest.”
In 2022, ERO officials arrested 46,396 non-citizens with a criminal past.
This group had 198,498 charges and convictions, including 21,531 felonies; 8,164 sex and assault offenses; 5,554 gun crimes; 1,501 murder-related crimes; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.