Bruna De Paula Cardoso, Involuntary Manslaughter, ND 2018

Bruna De Paula Cardoso, 24, Brazil, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for involuntary manslaughter following a drunken, high-speed crash that killed her passenger in Parshall, North Dakota. On February 13, 2018, Chief United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland handed down a sentence of three years and one month behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release and an order to pay restitution.

The crash occurred on September 24, 2016, when Cardoso, driving under the influence, lost control of her vehicle on Parshall’s city streets. Traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour—15 over the 25 mph limit—she plowed into an ‘End School Zone’ sign before slamming into a tree. The force of the impact was catastrophic. The passenger in her vehicle died at the scene, a life erased by a decision to drive while intoxicated.

At the time of the crash, Cardoso’s blood alcohol content was measured at .130—well above the legal limit of .08. Toxicology and forensic analysis confirmed her intoxication. Speed and alcohol combined to turn a routine drive into a death sentence for her passenger. There was no evidence of mechanical failure—the sole cause of the crash was driver impairment.

Cardoso, a citizen of Brazil, was prosecuted in federal court due to the incident occurring on tribal land. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, with critical support from the Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department. The case underscored the deadly risks of impaired driving in rural communities, where emergency response times can compound the consequences of split-second decisions.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan O’Konek secured the conviction, emphasizing accountability in cases where recklessness leads to death. “Driving drunk isn’t a mistake—it’s a choice,” said a DOJ spokesperson. “When that choice takes a life, the justice system responds with force.”

Judge Daniel L. Hovland showed no leniency in sentencing, calling the crash both preventable and tragic. Cardoso now faces years in federal custody while the family of the victim is left with grief and unanswered questions. The case stands as a grim reminder: one night of intoxication can destroy multiple lives forever.