HOUSTON — A Brazilian power couple with deep international ties was yanked from the tarmac at Miami International Airport early Friday morning and slammed into federal custody on charges of international parental kidnapping. Carlos Otavio Guimaraes, 67, and Jemima Guimaraes, 65, arrived on a flight from São Paulo only to be met by FBI agents acting on a fresh indictment. The pair is accused of orchestrating the prolonged abduction of a minor child, withholding her from the United States for nearly five years.
The criminal complaint, unsealed in Houston federal court, alleges the couple conspired with their daughter, Marcelle Guimaraes, 39, to illegally retain the child in Brazil after a family visit in July 2013. The mother and child had traveled to Brazil for a family event and were legally required to return to Houston no later than July 20, 2013. They never did. As of the complaint’s filing, the child remains in Brazil, cut off from her lawful custodial environment in the United States.
Charged with conspiracy to commit international parental kidnapping and the substantive offense of international parental kidnapping, each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison on the conspiracy count and an additional three years if convicted on the kidnapping charge. A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment on Feb. 21, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle over jurisdiction, custody, and criminal intent.
The Guimaraes couple, described as international business figures with significant assets abroad, were arrested without incident upon landing in Miami. They are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan at 1:30 p.m. for their initial hearing, where prosecutors will push for continued detention. Marcelle Guimaraes remains at large and has not yet been taken into custody.
The FBI conducted the multi-year investigation into the child’s disappearance, working with international authorities to track down evidence and establish a chain of criminal conduct. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack is leading the prosecution, emphasizing that the case isn’t just about custody—it’s about criminal violation of federal law. “This is not a family dispute,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. “This is a crime with clear consequences.”
An indictment and a criminal complaint are formal accusations, not proof of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process of law. A counsel determination hearing is set for Feb. 26, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo in Houston. The case underscores the federal government’s willingness to prosecute parental kidnapping as a serious federal offense, especially when borders are crossed to conceal a child.
Related Federal Cases
- Three Sentenced in Corpus Christi Child Kidnapping · Texas
- Felix Becerra Herrera Sentenced to 24 Years for Mexico Kidnapping · Texas
- Texas Men Plead Guilty to 2011 Kidnapping, Murder of Kenneth Ayres · Oklahoma
- San Antonio Man Nabbed in Mexico for Kidnapping · Texas
- Round Rock Man Indicted in Twin Sister Kidnapping · Colorado
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime