Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
United States of America v. Tiago Mello-Lima
Date: 08-24-2021
Case Number: 1:19-cr-00092-RJA-JJM
Judge: Richard J. Arcara
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Erie County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Best Buffalo Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Best Buffalo Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Buffalo, NY: Criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with bringing aliens into the United States for commercial advantage or private financial gain.
Tiago Mello-Lima, 34, a Brazilian citizen living in Canada, managed and supervised a smuggling organization. Specifically, on April 28, 2019, while in Ontario, Canada, Mello-Lima and two other individuals, including co-defendant Renan Portela Bandeira De Souza, launched a boat, containing four alien passengers who were not citizens or nationals of the United States, into the Niagara River. In prior negotiations with two of the aliens, the defendant agreed to charge each alien approximately $6,000 to bring them to the United States. Mello-Lima drove the boat from Canada to the United States landing on Grand Island, NY. The four aliens disembarked, and the defendant returned the boat to a dock in Canada. Mello-Lima planned the April 28, 2019, smuggling and arranged for a U.S.-based individual to pick up the aliens on Grand Island and drive them to their final destinations in the United States. Between March 17 and July 2019, Mello-Lima smuggled or aided and abetted the smuggling of six more aliens into the United States.
Co-defendant Renan Portela Bandeira De Souza also pleaded guilty to bringing aliens to the United States for commercial advantage or private financial gain and was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison by Judge Arcara.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent Andrew Scharnweber, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in the extradition of the defendant from Canada to the United States in March 2020.
8:1324.F BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(1-8)
8:1324.FBRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(1s)
8:1324.F BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(2s-9s)
8:1324.F and 18:2 BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(10s)
8:1324.F and 8:1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(II) BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(11s)
8:1324.F and 18:2 BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(12s)
8:1324.F and 8:1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(II) BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(13s)
Tiago Mello-Lima, 34, a Brazilian citizen living in Canada, managed and supervised a smuggling organization. Specifically, on April 28, 2019, while in Ontario, Canada, Mello-Lima and two other individuals, including co-defendant Renan Portela Bandeira De Souza, launched a boat, containing four alien passengers who were not citizens or nationals of the United States, into the Niagara River. In prior negotiations with two of the aliens, the defendant agreed to charge each alien approximately $6,000 to bring them to the United States. Mello-Lima drove the boat from Canada to the United States landing on Grand Island, NY. The four aliens disembarked, and the defendant returned the boat to a dock in Canada. Mello-Lima planned the April 28, 2019, smuggling and arranged for a U.S.-based individual to pick up the aliens on Grand Island and drive them to their final destinations in the United States. Between March 17 and July 2019, Mello-Lima smuggled or aided and abetted the smuggling of six more aliens into the United States.
Co-defendant Renan Portela Bandeira De Souza also pleaded guilty to bringing aliens to the United States for commercial advantage or private financial gain and was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison by Judge Arcara.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent Andrew Scharnweber, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in the extradition of the defendant from Canada to the United States in March 2020.
8:1324.F BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(1-8)
8:1324.FBRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(1s)
8:1324.F BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(2s-9s)
8:1324.F and 18:2 BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(10s)
8:1324.F and 8:1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(II) BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(11s)
8:1324.F and 18:2 BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(12s)
8:1324.F and 8:1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(II) BRINGING IN AND HARBORING ALIENS
(13s)
Outcome:
Defendant was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Tiago Mello-Lima?
The outcome was: Defendant was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Which court heard United States of America v. Tiago Mello-Lima?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Erie County), NY. The presiding judge was Richard J. Arcara.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Tiago Mello-Lima?
Plaintiff's attorney: United States Attorney’s Office. Defendant's attorney: Best Buffalo Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Tiago Mello-Lima decided?
This case was decided on August 24, 2021.