The Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro launched, this Tuesday (10), Operation Caligula, against an organization made up of dozens of criminals, including Ronnie Lessa – denounced as the executioner of the murder of city councilor Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes.
The organization targeted by the operation, according to the authorities, is led by Rogério Costa de Andrade and his son Gustavo de Andrade.
“According to the accusations offered by the MP, Rogério and Gustavo de Andrade command an organized criminal structure dedicated to the exploitation of games of chance. Not only in Rio de Janeiro, but in several other states, which for decades has held sway in several locations”, alleges the MP.
The authorities add that the organization’s dominance was “founded on two pillars”. The “habitual and permanent” corruption of public agents, and the use of violence against “competitors and opponents”.
The partnership between the organization’s leader, Rogério, and Ronnie Lessa is pointed out in the complaints as old, “with evidence of its existence at least since 2009”, says the MP.
The MP reports that, in 2009, Lessa, “appointed as one of Rogério de Andrade’s security guards, lost a leg in a bomb attack that exploded his car”.
“Later, in 2018, the year of the death of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes, the two denounced approached again. Rogério de Andrade allied himself again with Ronnie Lessa and people connected to him, opening a bookmaker in Barra da Tijuca”, points out the MP.
THE CNN contacted the defendant’s defense, and is awaiting a response.
In update
Source: CNN Brasil
