Charges against a Sewickley man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been withdrawn.
Bruno Guedes da Silva, 38, has been in federal custody since Feb. 22.
He was charged with the sale or transfer of firearms and unsworn falsification to authorities.
Charges stem from an incident in early July 2024 in McCandless, according to online court documents.
Attorney Thomas N. Farrell represents Guedes da Silva in the criminal case and is not involved in immigration enforcement issues. He said charges were withdrawn Wednesday.
According to the criminal complaint, Guedes da Silva attempted to buy a glock at Midwest Shooting Center.
Part of the related paperwork asked if the purchaser was “an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.”
Guedes da Silva checked “no,” according to the complaint.
ICE records indicate he is in the country illegally and “is currently under removal proceedings,” court documents read.
Farrell said his client believed he was legally in the country because he is seeking asylum and the government permitted him to work and pay taxes. Guedes da Silva, a Brazilian native, also has a driver’s license and Social Security card, the attorney said.
Allegheny County First Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Spangler, via email, explained the withdrawal.
“The circumstances of this case were recently brought to our attention,” the email read. “Because of the medical condition and treatment regimen being received by a family member, for compassionate and humanitarian reasons the charges … are being withdrawn without prejudice to refile at a later date if warranted.”
Spangler said the statement speaks for itself and they have nothing more to add.
Calls to McCandless police were not immediately returned.
Guedes da Silva was taken into custody during a traffic stop near Osborne Elementary School while he and his wife, Ana Paula, were driving to their jobs at a restaurant.
Their daughter, Maria Paula de Araujo Guedes, 6, is a first grader at the school.
She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in April 2024 and resumed treatments a few months ago after being in remission most of last year.
Her older brother, Breno de Araujo Guedes, 17, is a junior at Quaker Valley High School. He works at a Brazilian steakhouse in Downtown Pittsburgh when not tending to the family or his studies.
Hadley Hass of Glen Osborne has become a spokesperson for the family in recent months.
She said word about the charges being withdrawn is getting around and the community continues to support the family.
“This is definitely positive news and the most encouraging in news we’ve had in a while,” Haas said. “We’re just hoping and praying that he comes home soon.”
Sewickley United Methodist Church hosted a prayer service for the family on March 27.
Guedes da Silva remains federally detained. A bond hearing is set for April 13.
It is unclear when he may be released.
A call to attorney Peter Rogers, who is representing the family in the immigration case, was not immediately returned.
