A 20-year-old Brazilian man, Victor Rodrigues De Moura-Pereria, facing deportation has been slapped with charges after an audacious escape from a transport van while shackled, federal authorities said.
De Moura-Pereria, who resides in Framingham, was on his way to the Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island when he made his dramatic getaway. After being approached by law enforcement in Framingham due to an outstanding warrant, sources say, he resisted arrest before being handed over to immigration officials, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts.
The escaping act unfolded on February 26, 2024. De Moura-Pereria, while still in full restraints, attempted to unlock the passenger side door of the van using his teeth to pull the lock pin, prosecutors alleged. He apparently squeezed his body through a narrow opening into the van's storage area and tripped an emergency release to jump out onto the highway while the vehicle was in motion.
In a turn of events, the defendant, despite his escape, was later found hiding a quarter mile from the incident, behind a building in Waltham, Mass., a decision that quickly led to his recapture. This escape stunt could land him up to a year behind bars, along with a hefty $100,000 fine and supervised release, Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy stated, alongside acknowledgment of assistance from the Waltham Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Following any prison term, De Moura-Pereria faces deportation.
The charges, detailed in court documents, also note De Moura-Pereria's initial arrest in Arizona for unlawful entry into the United States back in September 2021. His failure to report for removal proceedings later labeled him an absconder. De Moura-Pereria's case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit, with all allegations pending a presumption of innocence until potential conviction in a court of law. He's scheduled for his day in court on March 25, 2024.
