Former military police officer Ronnie Lessa was sentenced by Judge Adriana Alves dos Santos Cruz, of the 5th Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro, to five years in prison, in a closed regime, for international trafficking in weapons, accessories and ammunition.
He was denounced by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) for importing 16 pieces of AR-15 rifle seized in 2017 by the Federal Revenue Service, at Galeão/Tom Jobim International Airport, in Rio, from Hong Kong.
Based on the monthly income of R$ 44 thousand, informed by the retired sergeant, the magistrate also determined a fine corresponding to five daily minimum wages in the period of 97 days.
“I maintain the defendant’s preventive detention, and I do so mainly to guarantee public order,” said the magistrate.
The MPF maintained in the complaint that, although the destination of the material was a bodybuilding gym, the address indicated in the order does not correspond to the establishment, but to the one informed as residential by the couple Ronnie and Elaine Lessa, where there are two apartments linked to the defendants.
mouth brakes
The defense of the ex-PM asked for the acquittal of the client due to the unusual nature of the fact, as it understands that the materials seized are of the muzzle brake type, a product that is not controlled by the Army and that does not need authorization to be imported. For the defense, even if it is a flame breaker, as pointed out by the MPF’s complaint, for legal purposes, the product is no longer considered a firearm accessory.
Lessa’s lawyers also argued that even if it were considered a firearm accessory, the flame arrester is no longer a product controlled by the Army and, therefore, would not need authorization to be imported.
Elsewhere, the defense reported that the material was purchased over the internet under the nomenclature and description of muzzle brake, which would remove the intent to import flame arresters. However, in the decision, signed on Thursday (4), judge Adriana Alves dos Santos Cruz showed a different understanding.
“Thus, it remains clear [que] on February 23, 2017, an attempt was made to illegally import firearm accessories for restricted use, namely: 16 new flame arresters for Colt Ar-15 rifles, caliber 5.56x45mm or similar, seized by the Revenue Federal at Rio de Janeiro International Airport,” he said.
For the magistrate, the reports attached to the process proved to be “unequivocal that the materials, whose illicit importation was intended to be consummated, refer, in essence, to the so-called flame-breakers”.
reverse proof
The judge acquitted Elaine Pereira Figueiredo Lessa, the ex-policeman’s wife, also denounced in the process. According to the magistrate, the name of the defendant appears in the academy’s articles of association, by itself, cannot lead to the conclusion that, in fact, she managed the place, which Elaine had informed in her testimony.
“It would be up to the prosecution to bring reverse evidence”, pointed out the judge, who, on this point, agreed with the defense.
The decision determines that “the necessary measures for the shipment of war material to the Army for destination” be adopted. If there is no interest of the force, the judge ordered the destruction by the military institution.
Lessa is denounced as the executioner of the murder of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, on March 14, 2018, in Rio.
The former police officer was arrested in March 2019 and, in December 2020, he was transferred from Rio de Janeiro to the Maximum Security Federal Penitentiary in Campo Grande, in Mato Grosso do Sul.
