Crime

Brazilian national in Worcester charged in connection to human smuggling ring

The man allegedly bought over 100 airline tickets for Brazilian nationals to travel to cities in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

U.S. Attorney’s Office

March 27, 2025

1 minute to read

A Brazilian national who was allegedly living in Worcester illegally was arrested Wednesday in connection with a conspiracy to “bring aliens to and transport aliens within the United States in violation of law,” authorities said.

An investigation into a human smuggling organization that allegedly smuggles Brazilian nationals through Mexico, across the U.S.-Mexico border, and into the United States for financial gain began in April 2022.

Four individuals associated with the smuggling organization were detained on administrative immigration violations on Wednesday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Flavio Alexandra Alves, 41, who was residing in Worcester, was identified as a domestic-based smuggler for the organization, authorities said.

Between May 2021 and August 2022, Alves allegedly bought over 100 airline tickets for Brazilian nationals to travel to cities in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Alves allegedly sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in money transfers to facilitate the travel and pay smugglers in Mexico for their role in the operation. Alves collected some of the payments from the Brazilian nationals to keep for himself, authorities said.

Alves was previously convicted of human smuggling offenses in the Central District of California in 2004 before he was deported to Brazil in February 2005, according to charging documents. Alves then illegally re-entered the United States at some point following his removal, authorities said.

The charge of conspiracy to bring aliens to, or transport an alien within, the United States in violation of the law provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the office. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed.

Following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester, Alves was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Friday.