Two men suspected of involvement in a plot to kidnap a prominent Brazilian judge were killed in a São Paulo prison while awaiting trial. The deceased, Janeferson Aparecido Mariano Gomes, known as Nefo, and Reginaldo Oliveira de Sousa, known as Rê, were attacked by fellow inmates during a “sunbathing break” inside the prison compound.
Nefo, 48, was stabbed in the toilets, while Rê, also 48, was killed in the courtyard, according to reports by CNN Brasil. Their deaths occurred in the midst of pre-trial detention following their arrest last year during a police operation dubbed Henchman. This operation had uncovered a plan to kidnap high-profile public figures for ransom, including targeting Senator Sergio Moro, a former public prosecutor known for his role in Operation Car Wash, a significant corruption investigation.
Three inmates have confessed to the killings, stating they acted in a “settling of scores.” They turned themselves in to the prison authorities shortly after the incident. Both the victims and their attackers are believed to have ties to the First Capital Command (PCC), Brazil’s most influential criminal organization.
According to the Brazilian news site UOL, the order to kill Nefo and Rê likely came from high-ranking members within the PCC. It is speculated that the victims were targeted for “saying too much” about the gang’s operations.
Nefo and Rê were initially detained in March 2023 after authorities uncovered the PCC’s plan to kidnap Sergio Moro. The gang allegedly aimed to retaliate against Moro for his actions during his tenure as Brazil’s justice and security minister. During that time, he ordered the transfer of high-ranking PCC members from smaller prisons, which they controlled, to maximum-security facilities.
The killings underscore the ongoing challenges within Brazil’s prison system, particularly the influence of powerful criminal groups like the PCC. The incident also highlights the dangers faced by those involved in high-profile criminal cases, both within and outside of prison walls. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murders to address the security and operational lapses that allowed such an incident to occur.
