Brazilian bishops Estevam Hernandes Filho and Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes are to face charges in their country after being arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) early on Tuesday in the U.S. state of Miami.

The couple, founders of the church of Renascer em Cristo, were charged with tax evasion and money laundering, crimes which bring foreigners who own property in America, as the Hernandes do, under U.S. law enforcement jurisdiction.

In September 2006, the Brazilian Court froze the church's assets in Brazil and Florida. Brazil's Federal Police and Prosecution Office continued to monitor their trips, with the FBI's help, to track the money collected by the bishops.

The FBI listed their names under the so-called blue alert, which was designed for foreigners who own properties in the United States and face charges of interest to the U.S. government.

Source: Xinhua