Brazilian National Arrested for Possessing Firearms

BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who entered the United States illegally in 2002, will appear in federal court today for possessing firearms and ammunition.

Acemar Damaceno, 37, who was residing in Weymouth, was taken into federal custody yesterday and charged in a criminal complaint with one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler scheduled a probable cause and detention hearing for 2:30 p.m. today.

According to court documents, federal law enforcement authorities received information that a man known as “Marcus” was offering to sell firearms to a cooperating witness (CW). On March 11, 2017, the CW visited Marcus’ home in Weymouth where Marcus allegedly stated that he would kill anybody for a fee. Marcus proceeded to show the CW a .45 caliber handgun, a shotgun and a bag containing various amounts of ammunition that Marcus hid in the basement of his residence. Marcus also allegedly offered to sell the .45 caliber handgun to the CW for $1500. The CW cooperated with law enforcement officers and identified Marcus as Acemar Damaceno.

According to the criminal complaint, on April 7, 2017, law enforcement officers stopped Damaceno in his vehicle as he left his home, at which time Damaceno admitted that he was not a citizen and that he was illegally present in the United States. Damaceno was administratively arrested. During a search of his residence, a .45 caliber Kimber Ultra Ten II pistol loaded with ten .45 caliber rounds of ammunition and an Iver Johnson Champion shotgun without a serial number were recovered. A trace of the Kimber pistol determined that it was reported stolen in Connecticut in October 2011.

The charge of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and deportation upon the completion of the imposed sentence. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.