Brazilian National Living in Fall River Sentenced After Guilty Plea to Rape and Child Pornography Charges

FALL RIVER MASSACHUSETTS, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III announced that a Brazilian national living in Fall River has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple criminal charges in Superior Court.

According to prosecutors, 55-year-old Elias Rodrigues Dos Santos Mendes pleaded guilty Monday to several offenses, including rape, assault with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, and possession of illegal images involving minors.

The defendant was sentenced to serve between eight and ten years in state prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Canan Yesilcimen and Kalene Kobza.

Authorities said the adult victim had recently arrived in the United States in March 2024 with her four children and intended to live in Fall River. She was introduced to Dos Santos Mendes, who told her he could assist her in locating housing for the family.

During their interactions, investigators said the defendant made inappropriate requests involving the victim’s child, which she refused. Authorities said the defendant later assaulted the victim while the two were inside his vehicle in Fall River.

After the incident was reported to police, investigators seized two mobile phones belonging to the defendant. During the investigation, authorities recovered digital evidence from one of the devices that contained illegal material involving minors.

The victim later received medical care, and investigators reported that DNA evidence obtained during the examination matched the defendant.

District Attorney Quinn stated that the defendant took advantage of a position of familiarity and trust with the victim. Officials also noted that the defendant is not a U.S. citizen and is expected to face deportation proceedings following the completion of his prison sentence.