⏱ 2 min read
Fernando Goncalves dos Santos, a 38-year-old Brazilian national, has pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. The crime occurred in Danbury, Connecticut, where Goncalves dos Santos was initially arrested in January 2023 for multiple domestic violence offenses. He was subsequently arrested again in March and May 2023 for violating a protective order and making threats. After being removed to Brazil on November 17, 2023, Goncalves dos Santos illegally reentered the US, landing him in federal court.
Goncalves dos Santos’ troubles with the law didn’t end with his deportation. In 2025, he was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court for violating conditions of release. His most recent arrest occurred on March 27, 2026, in Bethel, when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody on a federal criminal complaint.
Goncalves dos Santos, who has been detained since his arrest, now faces a maximum of two years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for October 9 in Hartford, where US District Judge Alvin W. Thompson will determine his fate. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and protecting communities from violent crime.
The investigation was led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, with the case being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Anastasia E. King. Goncalves dos Santos’ guilty plea marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to address unlawful reentry and related crimes in the US.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Connecticut
- Location: CT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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