Grand jury returns indictment against Brazilian evangelicals for smuggling money into U.S.

MIAMI: A U.S. grand jury has returned an indictment against a couple who lead a large Brazilian evangelical church, accusing them of illegally smuggling money into the United States and making false statements.

Arraignment on the charges is scheduled for Tuesday for Estevam Hernandes-Filho and Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes, who are free on $100,000 bail but must remain largely confined to their Florida residence.

The indictment, returned late last week, charges the couple with bulk cash smuggling, conspiracy and making false statements on U.S. customs forms. The couple filled out paperwork claiming they had about $21,000 when they arrived in the United States, but they actually were carrying more than $56,000, prosecutors say.

Each charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. Hernandes-Filho is named in four counts and his wife in five counts.

Brazilian authorities have also charged the couple with taking millions of dollars from their Reborn in Christ Church to buy real estate and other assets for themselves. The church is one of Brazil’s largest evangelical denominations.

The couple was arrested on Jan. 8 at Miami International Airport after arriving on a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, carrying $56,467, authorities say. The money was found in luggage, inside the pages of a Bible and in their son’s backpack, according to court documents.

They were initially arrested under a federal criminal complaint, which was replaced by the charges in the more formal grand jury indictment.

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