Escalation Cust Care: Miles posting issue due to Last, Middle & First Name issues?

I have a friend who just flew on AA between IAH to SSA via MIA - 3 trips since Sept/ Oct 2013.

None of the miles have posted.
Talking to CC at airports did not work.
Online request form did not work.

There seems to be a small issue/ mix up due to First Name (FN) Middle Name (MN)/ Last Name (LN) + combinations.

BRAZILIAN PASSPORT:

Surname:
MNxxxx LNxxxx

Name:
FNxxxxx

PS: Now, although this is technically not perfect as it would have been better to have MNxxx after FNxxxx.. You can pretty much forget about Brazilian authorities fixing this or my friend going through that process to do it.

Ticket bookings are done by Company's Travel Agent and follows the naming as on PASSPORT

Name on all FF # cards:
FNxxxx LNxxxxx

Has never had issues with miles posting to all the following airlines/ miles (even with same Passport with MN/ LN thingy):
- Flying Blue (KLM + AF)
- Lufthansa
- Qatar
- Emirates
- TAM
- GOL
- AZUL

So, we are not sure why AA is causing trouble here?
Why is AA giving such issues?
And what is the way to get around it?

- Has created another account on AA to somehow get around this issue.. But we are wondering how to credit the miles for above 3 trips.. to OLD FF # or NEW FF#

- And who to talk to and how to go about it?

PS:

Also, TAM Status: Star Alliance Silver
(How is this going to change when TAM moves off *A to OW?)

The above mentioned flights were when TAM was part of *A so these have to credit to the AA FF account or a OW partner.