Brazilian who used LDS Church to Defraud Flees to Brazil (Utahn jumps bail, flees to native Brazil)
Deseret News 13Dec99 D2
By Edward L. Carter: Deseret News staff writer

PROVO, UTAH -- A 38-year-old Brazilian immigrant who faced fraud and money laundering charges for using LDS Church connections to deceive illegal aliens has jumped bail and fled to Brazil. Manoel F. Silva lied to an immigration judge and asked to be deported, effectively escaping the charges because the U.S.'s extradition treaty with Brazil doesn't allow Brazilians to be extradited to the U.S.

Silva was charged this summer with participating in a scam operated by Caballero Tax and Immigration, in which illegal aliens were offered the chance to get green cards without going through the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Two Florida residents involved in the scam also face charges. Silva was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on 19 counts of communications fraud, seven counts of money laundering and one count of racketeering in 4th District Court in January.

Silva's passport was being held by an immigration attorney under a 4th District judge's order. To escape, Silva appeared before an immigration judge November 4th and asked to be deported. The next day, Silva asked the Brazilian consulate in Los Angeles for documents to allow him to return to Brazil, saying that he lost his passport. He flew to Brazil November 7th.