Illegal Immigrant Murder Convict Who Lived In New Bedford Gets Additional 10-Year Prison Sentence

A Brazilian man who used to live in New Bedford received a 10-year prison sentence in federal court in Boston for illegal re-entry earlier this week.

The man, 52-year-old Walter Gomes DaSilva, is currently serving a 25 years-to-life prison sentence imposed in Massachusetts state court for a 2016 murder conviction, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

US District Court Judge Angel Kelley on Tuesday, February2 7 ordered that the 10-year sentence be served consecutive to his current prison sentence for murder.

DaSilva pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of unlawful re-entry of a deported alien in December 2019.

“This sentence sends the right message to any who think they can violate our immigration laws with impunity and get away with it,” said Todd M. Lyons, Boston field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, in a written statement. “ERO Boston recognizes and appreciates the commitment of the office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts for its commitment to prosecuting immigration law violators like DaSilva, who was previously convicted of murder. Enforcement of federal immigration law increases the protection of public safety and protects our communities from the potential threat posed by individuals like this defendant.”

The man was first deported from the United States in 1999 after being convicted of domestic assault and battery. He then re-entered the country illegally and was charged with armed assault to murder in Middlesex Superior Court in 2002. He was convicted and served about 10 years in prison.

After finishing his sentence, he was put into removal proceedings and was deported again to Brazil in March 2012. That means he entered the country illegally again and committed a murder after his 2012 deportation.