Brazilian Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of North Dakota
13 February 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BISMARCK – United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on February 13, 2018, Chief United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Bruna De Paula Cardoso, 24, Brazil, on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Judge Hovland sentenced Cardoso to serve three years and one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and to pay restitution.

On September 24, 2016, while in Parshall, North Dakota, Cardoso drove a vehicle while intoxicated, lost control of the vehicle and hit an "End School Zone" sign, then struck a tree. The passenger in the vehicle she was operating was killed. At the time of the accident, Cardoso’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was .130 and it was determined that the speed of the vehicle was approximately 40 miles per hour, which was 15 mph over the posted 25 mph speed limit.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan O’Konek prosecuted the case