A Brazilian national living in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has been charged with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England; and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter.
According to court documents and statements presented in court, on December 23, 2025, a victim reported to Bridgeport Police that Joao Victor Borges de Queiroz, 33, attacked her while she was driving and fired a gun during the incident. The victim managed to take the firearm from Borges de Queiroz during the struggle and threw it out of the car window before jumping out of the moving vehicle near Orange Street and Central Avenue. Borges de Queiroz allegedly held onto her and continued the assault until bystanders intervened and helped her escape. Officers responding to the scene found a black Taurus 9mm Model G2C handgun on Orange Street. Surveillance footage reportedly confirmed details of what occurred.
As a result of their investigation, state authorities issued an arrest warrant charging Borges de Queiroz with criminal attempt to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, and stalking in the second degree.
On December 24, 2025, Borges de Queiroz was detained at Highgate Springs Port of Entry on the U.S.-Canada border after being denied entry into Canada and attempting to reenter the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered there was an active armed and dangerous alert for him.
Authorities allege that CBP first encountered Borges de Queiroz in Arizona in May 2023 and determined he did not have lawful status in this country. Immigration records show he missed a court date scheduled for April 2025 but has another hearing set for November 30, 2026.
Borges de Queiroz remains detained following his arrest and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford today. If convicted on federal charges of possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully present in the United States, he faces up to fifteen years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stated: "A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with Bridgeport Police Department support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as assistance from ATF agents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings is prosecuting this federal case while The State’s Attorney’s Office for Fairfield Judicial District pursues related state charges against Borges de Queiroz.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative coordinated by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues as well as combatting violent crime involving cartels or transnational criminal organizations.
