Four officers and former police officer tried for criminal organisation and money laundering in Rio Preto
Five members of the Military Police in São José do Rio Preto are being tried by the TJMSP for aggravated homicide, loan sharking and involvement in a criminal scheme.
Officers accused of murders and extortion go to military trial in São Paulo
Four active military police officers and one retired former officer were submitted to trial on the afternoon of Tuesday, 29 May by the Military Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo (TJMSP), under accusation of aggravated homicide, money laundering and formation of a criminal organisation. According to g1.globo.com, the case originated in São José do Rio Preto (SP) and involved a series of crimes committed between September and December 2023.
The session was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Until publication of the report, the trial had not yet concluded.
Internal Affairs operation and cascade arrests
The first search and seizure warrants were executed on 21 May 2025 during an operation launched by the Military Police Internal Affairs division. Three sergeants — Saint Clair Soares and brothers Rafael Soares and Alan Victor Soares — were arrested at that time. Corporal Felício Pereira Alonso was detained in June of the same year.
All were taken to Romão Gomes Prison in São Paulo, where they remained in custody awaiting trial.
According to investigations at the time, the group engaged in violence, collected illicit payments, engaged in loan sharking and allegedly carried out murders for hire by third parties — characterising, in the assessment of the Public Prosecutor's Office, a scheme of "contract killers".
New arrest in 2026 expands the investigative picture
With the advancement of inquiries, on 4 May 2026 a Military Police officer was arrested on suspicion of being part of the same extermination group. Luís Guilherme Silva Pavani was considered a fugitive by the courts since 30 April for crimes of loan sharking and extortion. The Military Police Internal Affairs division stated that although Pavani did not directly execute the victims, he was part of the organisation being investigated.
Homicide filmed inside condominium three days before Christmas
One of the crimes attributed to the group occurred in December 2025, three days before Christmas, inside the Jardim Itapema condominium in the North Zone of São José do Rio Preto. Images captured by security cameras show Jefferson Cristiano de Souza being shot by two men as he was getting out of a vehicle. Jefferson died at the scene. The shots also struck vehicles belonging to other residents of the condominium.
Military Jury Court assesses prosecution and defence arguments
In the trial, the defendants are subject to the Military Jury Court, an instance in which the Jury Panel — made up of citizens from the district — analyses the arguments presented by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the allegations of the defence. The accused face charges of aggravated homicide and formation of a gang or criminal organisation.
g1.globo.com reported that it attempted to contact the defence of the accused without response until publication of the report.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo