Brazilian National Sentenced for Firearms Trafficking

BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who previously resided in Malden, was sentenced yesterday for immigration and firearms crimes.

Vanderlei Rodrigues DeAraujo, a/k/a Neneco, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, DeAraujo will be placed into removal proceedings and deported to Brazil.

On Sept. 30, 2020, DeAraujo pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license, two counts of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. DeAraujo was arrested on May 29, 2019 and has been in federal custody since. 

On Aug.11, 2011, DeAraujo, who was determined to be illegally present in the United States, was deported to Brazil. Sometime after his removal, DeAraujo illegally reentered the United States and between Sept. 6, 2018 and Jan. 28, 2019, DeAraujo illegally sold two semi-automatic firearms and ammunition. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and the Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine and Lindsey Weinstein of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.