Justice keeps Rogerio Andrade in federal prison and renews the RDD for another year

• Pichiro Ruggero de Andrade will return to prison in Rio After spending a year in Campo Grande Federal Prison
• One year in federal prison,Rogerio Andrade learned Spanish and completed an agricultural course

The decision comes a few days after it was overturned in the Rio Court of Justice. Nearly two weeks ago, the 8th Criminal Chamber suspended the RDD and opened the way for Rogerio to return to the state. Rapporteur Judge Marcius da Costa Ferreira accepted part of the defense’s arguments, who also tried to cancel the pretrial detention. The action is part of the operation in which Rogério was accused of killing his rival, Fernando Ignacio, in November 2020, amid the territorial dispute over jogo do picho and slot machines in the western region of Rio.

But the possibility of returning to Rio was short-lived. Prosecutors from the Specialized Action Group Against Organized Crime (Gaeco), from the Public Ministry of Rio, have filed a new criminal case, as well as an immediate appeal against the decision of the 8th Criminal Chamber. There was already an order in the First Court specialized in criminal organization for Ruggiero to remain in Campo Grande, charged with extortion and money laundering. For investigators, he continues to act as the head of an active criminal organization.

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Jaiko then asked to remain in federal prison, an argument that prompted the substitute judge, in charge of the unit at the time, to give a favorable opinion to the prosecutors, confirming the decision of the First Specialized Criminal Court.

In his decision, the judge gives the following reasons:

“The decision has formal regularity, because it is duly supported by evidence. The Supreme Court has reinforced the understanding that it is not for the federal prison judge to discuss the reasons of the court of origin, which will be the only one authorized to declare the need for the prisoner to be included or to remain in the federal prison system, and it is up to the prisoner, in case of dissatisfaction, to appeal to the court or court of origin.”

In Gaico’s appeal, prosecutors claim that Rogerio’s presence in Rio de Janeiro’s prison system would not prevent him from continuing to lead criminal activities, influence his subordinates or impede the collection of evidence. For prosecutors, the perpetrator continues to pose a “concrete and relevant threat” to state security. A document from the Ministry of Justice reinforces this assessment: Rio authorities classify Rogerio as someone who “flaunts his unique dangerousness” and maintains influence over public officials.

The Public Ministry also noted that federal legislation allows for renewal of transfers to federal prisons for a period of three years, whenever the risks that justified the initial transfer persist.

Rogerio was arrested on October 29 last year by teams from Gaeco and the Coordination of Security and Intelligence (CSI). Shortly thereafter, on November 12, he was transferred to the federal prison in Campo Grande. This was not the first time: he had already gone to the unit between May 2007 and July 2008, also on charges of extortion and money laundering.

Now, with the new decision, he remains where he is: isolated, monitored and far from the structure that, according to investigations, still revolves around him in Rio. The deadline now to keep him in federal prison runs from November 25 of this year to November 24, 2026.