Brazilian National Who Illegally Reentered U.S. is Sentenced

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FERNANDO GONCALVES DOS SANTOS, 38, a citizen of Brazil, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to six months of imprisonment, time already served, for illegally reentering the U.S.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2023, Danbury Police arrested Goncalves in connection with a domestic incident. At the time he did not have lawful status in the U.S. Danbury Police arrested Goncalves again in March 2023 for violating a protective order, and in May 2023 for threatening and for violating a protective order. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Goncalves in June 2023. On November 17, 2023, he was removed to Brazil.

Goncalves subsequently illegally reentered the U.S. In 2025, he was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court for violation of conditions of release - second degree.

ICE arrested Goncalves on a federal criminal complaint on March 27, 2026, in Bethel. On July 17, 2026, he pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.

Following today's court proceeding, Goncalves was transferred to ICE custody and will be removed to Brazil.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.