Father sentenced, son to plead guilty in smuggling scheme


By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2010

TAMPA - Edson Veiga helped smuggle more than 100 Brazilians illegally into the United States, and his son, Jean, helped him launder the money he made, court documents show.

Jean Veiga, 27, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering; his father was sentenced Monday to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to smuggle aliens.

The Tampa father-and-son alliance evidently did not enhance family harmony – Jean Veiga stole the money his father made from the scheme, according to a sentencing memorandum filed with the court by Edson Veiga's attorney, Mark Rankin.

According to court documents:

Edson Veiga, 51, was part of a smuggling group that brought Brazilians to the United States through Mexico from 2004 through 2009. The group charged each person $8,000 for the trip, with $1,000 to $1,500 going to Edson Veiga.

People who wanted themselves or their relatives to be smuggled would contact Edson Veiga. He then reached out to his associates, who coordinated with "coyotes," or smugglers, in Mexico.

The Brazilians would go to a house in Mexico near the U.S. border; when the coyotes decided it was safe, they would take groups of Brazilians across the desert into the United States and to a safe house in Houston.

Once Edson Veiga or other members of the group were paid, the Brazilians would be taken to their ultimate destination in the United States.

Earlier in the conspiracy, U.S. policy was to release undocumented immigrants after they were arrested and given notices to appear in court. So during that time, after being smuggled into the United States, the Brazilians would "allow immigration authorities to arrest them."

After they were released, they would meet with Edson Veiga, who would help them get to their final destinations with no intention of complying with the orders to appear in court.

Veiga deposited proceeds in several bank accounts controlled by people in Tampa, including his son.

Jean Veiga used the money as directed by his father. For example, $50,000 was used to repair a Tampa house owned by Edson Veiga, and Jean Veiga used $13,000 to buy a 1999 Lexus RX-300 for his father.

Investigators estimate the scheme laundered about $130,000 in smuggling proceeds. The case was the subject of an undercover investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

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