A Brazilian national living in the United States illegally has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for assaulting a federal officer. Enmanuel Fernandes-Calixto, also known as Emanuel Fernandes and Emanuel Bartholomew, age 21, received his sentence from United States District Judge Karen S. Marston. In addition to the prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on April 2, 2025, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) arrested Fernandes-Calixto for immigration violations. During transport, while still handcuffed, Fernandes-Calixto attempted to escape by pushing the officer and trying several times to strike him. He managed to escape during the struggle and hid in a house in Northeast Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Police Department SWAT team assisted in apprehending him later that evening.
United States Attorney David Metcalf stated: "Enmanuel Fernandes-Calixto, aka Emanuel Fernandes and Emanuel Bartholomew, 21, a Brazilian national illegally in the United States, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karen S. Marston, for forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with an officer of the United States while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties."
The case is part of Operation Take Back America. This initiative uses resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) programs to address illegal immigration issues and combat violent crime involving cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
The investigation was conducted by ICE ERO.
A note from officials indicated that posting this press release was delayed due to a federal government shutdown lasting from October 1 through November 12, 2025.
