A Brazilian man living in the United States illegally, Warley Neto, 24, was arrested on August 23 and charged with five counts of rape involving an underage victim in Massachusetts, federal officials announced. Neto, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 near Paso Del Norte, Texas, had previously been released after receiving a notice to appear before an immigration judge.
Neto has a prior criminal record, having been arrested by the Edgartown Police Department for strangulation and assault on a family member. He was sentenced to 364 days in prison, though the judge suspended all but 90 days of that sentence. Following his release, Neto was arrested again in January 2023 on charges of raping a minor and enticing a child under 16.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued multiple detainer requests to the Dukes County Jail, which were honored, allowing federal authorities to take Neto into custody. Todd Lyons, ERO Boston Field Office Director, criticized jurisdictions that fail to honor immigration detainers, saying they often release dangerous criminals back into communities. Lyons praised the cooperation of local officials in this case for prioritizing public safety.