Man Who Escaped Custody On MA Highway Could Be Deported

BOSTON, MA — A Brazilian man residing in Framingham has been charged with allegedly escaping from federal custody while in transport to the Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island, the Department of Justice announced.

Victor Rodrigues De Moura-Pereria, 20, was charged with one count of escaping from federal custody. He will appear in federal court in Boston on March 25.

According to the charging documents, in September 2021, Rodrigues was arrested by federal authorities in Arizona after unlawfully entering the United States. He was subsequently placed into removal proceedings in October 2021, but allegedly failed to report.

On Feb. 25, 2024, in Framingham, Rodrigues was approached by local law enforcement due to the outstanding warrant for his arrest, officials said. It is alleged that Rodrigues ignored officers’ commands and resisted arrest.

Rodrigues was then transferred into the custody of immigration officials.
On Feb. 26, while being transported to the Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island, Rodrigues made numerous attempts to escape, officials said.

Specifically, it is alleged that — while placed in full restraints and seated in the prisoner compartment of the transport van — Rodrigues attempted to unlock the passenger side door by pulling on the lock pin with his teeth.

Rodrigues then allegedly forced his body through a small gap between the vehicle’s rear cage and passenger side window and into the vehicle’s storage compartment, where he pulled the emergency release pull tab, opened the rear door and jumped out onto the highway.

After exiting the transport van, Rodrigues ran down the middle of the highway and disappeared. According to the charging documents, Rodrigues was later located inside a wooden fenced area behind a building in Waltham approximately a quarter mile from where he exited the transport van.

The charge of escape provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 100,000. If convicted, Rodrigues faces deportation after serving any sentence imposed.