BOSTON – A Brazilian man living in Malden, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for lying about his involvement in a notorious 2015 massacre while seeking U.S. asylum and immigration benefits, federal prosecutors announced.
Antonio Jose De Abreu Vidal Filho, 31, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to two counts of perjury after concealing his arrest in connection with the murders of 11 people—mostly teenagers—in Fortaleza, Brazil. The killings, known as The Slaughter of Curió, were carried out by military police officers in retaliation for the death of a colleague.
False Statements to U.S. Authorities
According to court documents, De Abreu, a former officer with Brazil’s Ceará State Military Police, failed to disclose his arrest when applying for a U.S. visitor visa in 2017. Despite being charged in Brazil in 2016 and detained for eight months, he answered “no” when asked about prior arrests. He entered the U.S. in 2018 and later sought asylum in 2020, again omitting his criminal history.
In June 2023, a Brazilian court convicted De Abreu in absentia on 11 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and four counts of torture, sentencing him to 275 years in prison. Just months later, during a U.S. immigration hearing in February 2024, he falsely testified that he had “never lied” to officials, claiming omissions were due to not yet being arrested.
Deportation Expected After Prison Term
U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper imposed the 16-month sentence, after which De Abreu faces deportation. Prosecutors noted his fraudulent visa and asylum applications allowed him to obtain a driver’s license, Social Security number, and work authorization.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, with support from the U.S. Interagency Human Rights Violators & War Crimes Center.
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