I.C.E. News Release

April 15, 2010

ICE deports to Brazil 2 INTERPOL fugitives wanted for murder

NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Thursday deported a Brazilian couple wanted in their home country for murder and concealment of a corpse.

Eliste Maria Vieira Da Silva, 39, and Celso Vieira Dos Santos, 45, were turned over to the Brazilian National Police at Galeão International Airport on April 15. Both are wanted for the 2003 murder of Ronie Rodrigues Fagundes and concealing his corpse.

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) issued a Red Notice in January, which alerted law enforcement agencies in member countries worldwide about the couple.

An INTERPOL Red Notice lets law enforcement agencies know that arrest warrants have been issued and extradition will be sought for the fugitives.

The Red Notice sparked a collaborative effort between ICE, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Brazilian authorities, and INTERPOL to identify, apprehend, and extradite these fugitives.

ICE fugitive operations officers and U.S. Marshals arrested the couple on March 12 pending their deportation. The couple was residing illegally in the United States.

The couple is accused of shooting the murder victim six times in the back at point-blank range. His body was found in a shallow grave on the property where the two accused conspirators resided.

"ICE's transfer of these fugitives to the Brazilian National Police should send a message that the United States will not permit foreign fugitives from justice to hide within our borders," said Scott A. Weber, field office director for the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations in Newark. "This case is just one example of the superb collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies across international borders."

The INTERPOL Red Notice placed on these individuals facilitated ICE's identification of these fugitives and aided in their extradition.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Friday, April 16, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1004/100415newark.htm