A Brazilian man convicted of domestic violence assault who is living in Vancouver, Washington, has been arrested on more than a half-dozen counts of having firearms illegally, including ghost guns — privately-made firearms without serial numbers.
U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said in a news release Monday that Joao Ricardo DeBorba remains detained on the eight alleged counts at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac pending further court proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint, DeBorba entered the United States on a tourist visa in 1999, overstayed the visa and falsified documents to work in the U.S. and acquire firearms.
The complaint says in 2019, while purchasing three firearms in Portland and Lebanon, Oregon, and Lacey, Washington, DeBorba entered false information on government forms saying he was a U.S. citizen.
DeBorba purchased more firearms in both states, was arrested in November 2019 on alleged domestic violence assault, served with a no contact order and told to surrender his guns, the complaint says. Later that month the complaint says he was arrested for violating that order and 20 firearms were seized from his residence,
DeBorba was convicted in January in a separate case of domestic violence assault and told he could not have firearms.
Last week, law enforcement served a search warrant at DeBorba’s residence and seized 5 guns: 3 AR-15 style rifles without serial numbers or manufacturers marks and two handguns – one without a serial number or manufacturers mark. The ghost guns appear to have been made from parts ordered online, Brown said.
DeBorba also had a large amount of ammunition, firearms parts and tools, firearms silencers and magazines.
It wasn’t immediately known if he has a lawyer to comment on his behalf.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with help from the Vancouver Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies.
