Former Malden Man Pleads Guilty To Weapons Trafficking

MALDEN, MA — A Brazilian national formerly living in Malden pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal immigration and weapons charges. Vanderlei Rodrigues DeAraujo, 43, was first deported back to Brazil in August 2011, federal authorities said. Sometime after that, he re-entered the United States and moved to Malden under the name "Neneco," the U.S. Attorney's office said.

DeAraujo negotiated with and sold firearms and ammunition to a third party between September 2018 and January 2019, the USAO said. He was arrested in May 2019, and his fingerprints matched those of a previously deported person, according to authorities.

DeAraujo pleaded guilty to one count each of dealing in firearms without a license and illegal reentry of a previously deported alien and two counts of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

DeAraujo faces up to five years in prison for the weapons dealing conviction and up to 10 years in prison for being an alien in possession of a weapon and ammunition. He will be sentenced Jan. 21, 2021.