Brazilian fugitive convicted of murder captured by ice in massachusetts

MILFORD, Mass. — A Brazilian national convicted of murder in his home country and on the run for nearly two years was arrested in Milford on May 1 by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI Boston, federal officials confirmed.

Fernando Antonio Vieira-Martins, 34, had been convicted in Brazil on June 29, 2022, and sentenced to more than 24 years in prison. He fled the country before beginning his sentence, prompting Brazilian authorities to issue an arrest warrant on May 10, 2023.

Federal officials said Vieira-Martins entered the United States illegally on March 9, 2023, near Calexico, California, without being inspected or admitted by immigration officers.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston led the arrest effort, supported by the FBI. The arrest was carried out without incident in Milford. “Fernando Antonio Vieira-Martins murdered someone in his home country and attempted to subvert justice by fleeing to the United States,” said ICE Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde.

Hyde emphasized public safety, stating ICE Boston “will continue to prioritize the safety of our law-abiding public by arresting and removing such criminal alien threats to our neighbors.”

Key points

Brazilian fugitive convicted of murder was arrested in Milford on May 1 by ICE and FBI.
Vieira-Martins entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and evaded capture for nearly a year.
He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

ICE custody and extradition status

Since the May 1 arrest, Vieira-Martins has been detained by ICE as removal proceedings move forward. The agency has not disclosed when he may be returned to Brazil, but confirmed he remains in federal custody.

ICE stated that Vieira-Martins’ continued presence in the U.S. poses a risk due to the violent nature of his conviction. No further charges in the U.S. have been announced in connection with his illegal entry or fugitive status.

U.S. authorities routinely cooperate with foreign governments under international law enforcement agreements to facilitate extradition of fugitives with outstanding convictions abroad.

Brazilian officials have not issued a public statement on the capture, though the 2023 warrant remains active, according to ICE.

ICE noted that Vieira-Martins’ case is part of ongoing efforts to locate and deport individuals with serious criminal histories who evade justice by fleeing to the United States.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.