Johnny Barros Brandao, 42, from Brockton, Massachusetts, was sentenced to five years in prison for passport fraud, connected to his alleged involvement in two murders in Cabo Verde. After his conviction in October 2024, he was also sentenced to two years of supervised release, according to the United States Attorney's Office.
Brandao, accused of two murders in Cabo Verde, tried to escape legal trouble by falsely claiming he lost his passport to the U.S. Embassy in Dakar on December 28, 2022. However, his passport had been seized by authorities in Cabo Verde after a court ordered him not to leave the country following his release on December 12, 2022, pending trial, as reported by the United States Attorney's Office.
Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney, and Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Boston Field Office, announced the sentencing of Brandao for passport fraud. The case involved collaboration between U.S. Customs, Border Protection, Homeland Security, and prosecutors Meghan Cleary, David Tobin, and Brian Sullivan. Brandao was sentenced for passport fraud, which is less serious than the violent crimes he is accused of overseas. He may also face murder charges in Cabo Verde, as stated by the United States Attorney's Office.
