Woburn restaurant owners plead guilty to immigrant smuggling conspiracy

Federal prosecutors announced that a father and son who owned two Woburn restaurants pleaded guilty to charges that they smuggled immigrants from Brazil to the United States, some of whom they then employed in the restaurants.

Jesse James Moraes, 66, and Hugo Giovanni Moraes, 45, both of Woburn, own Taste of Brazil (Tudo Na Brasa and The Dog House Bar and Grill). They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to solicit and induce an alien to come, enter, and reside in the United States, knowing or recklessly disregarding that such arrival, entry, or residence violates the law. for commercial advantage or private financial gain.

Jesse Moraes also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder the proceeds of an immigrant smuggling conspiracy. In the statement made by the office of US Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy, it was stated that both men will be sentenced in February.

Prosecutors say both men recruited undocumented immigrants in Brazil to enter the U.S. through Mexico without permission for wages ranging from $12,000 to $22,000 per person. The men encouraged immigrants to submit false asylum and family affiliation claims and gave them fake information about their points of contact in the United States to give to federal authorities.

After the immigrants entered the United States, Jesse and Hugo Moraes helped them find long-term housing, including apartments owned by relatives. They also arranged for some immigrants to work in restaurants and receive all or part of their salaries in cash. According to the statement, once immigrants receive their identity documents, they will start paying at least partially by check.

Levy’s office said Jesse and Hugo Moraes encouraged immigrants working for them to obtain false identification documents and directed them to their accomplice, Marcos Chacon Gil.

Levy’s office said the collaborators agreed that some immigrants could pay part of the smuggling fee once they reached the United States. Levy’s office said immigrants do so through direct payments, withholding wages or through relatives and other partners in the country.

Money laundering conspiracy Jesse Moraes pleaded guilty to his involvement in the movement of money into and out of the United States in furtherance of the conspiracy. Levy’s office said he also tried to cover up the transactions using money from the smuggling conspiracy.

Both Jesse and Hugo Moraes face up to 10 years in prison for smuggling. Jesse Moraes faces an additional 20 years in prison on money laundering conspiracy charges.