Mario Cesar Dos Santos, Jr., a 50-year-old resident of Massachusetts, has been indicted and arrested on charges related to the fraudulent use of government seals. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. If convicted, Dos Santos could face up to five years in federal prison.
Court documents state that Dos Santos is the president of Chaplain Emergency Management Agency Inc. (CEMA), an organization he claimed was endorsed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Authorities allege that he used the official seals of FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) without authorization. Neither Dos Santos nor CEMA are affiliated with these agencies or any other part of the federal government.
The indictment details how Dos Santos organized chaplaincy training courses across the country under CEMA’s name. During these sessions, participants received identification cards, law enforcement badges, and certificates featuring altered versions of DHS, FEMA, and FBI seals. According to investigators, one version of CEMA’s logo used on ID cards was based on a modified DHS seal labeled “U.S. Department of Homeland Chaplain.” Certificates issued at these events included a version of the FBI seal and another variation on the FEMA seal.
Additionally, merchandise such as polo shirts, bumper stickers, jackets, badges, and badge holders—bearing either DHS or FEMA insignia—was offered for sale at CEMA trainings. Undercover operations confirmed purchases were made during a session held on September 27, 2025.
Authorities also report that CEMA’s website and social media accounts displayed logos resembling official government emblems and falsely described CEMA as a federal agency.
Dos Santos is identified as a Brazilian national who entered the United States in 2016 but overstayed his visa and is currently subject to deportation proceedings. In relation to his immigration case, officials say he submitted fraudulent documents including a “Certificate of Ordination” and a diploma from an institution called “University of Berkley” in Michigan—a school which does not exist.
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty,” according to authorities.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate; and Federal Air Marshal Service. Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos will prosecute the case.
