Capitão Guimarães
Encyclopedia
Ailton Guimarães Jorge, better known as Capitão Guimarães, is an illegal lottery operator (bicheiro
) and the patron of samba school Unidos do Viradouro. He has been the president of the Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro (LIESA) from 1987–1993 and 2001-2007.
involved in torture during the military dictatorship of Brazil (1964–1985). He operated out of Section II (Intelligence) of the Army Police in Rio’s Vila Militar, a unit that, like all of the dictatorship’s torture squads, received substantial rewards for capturing or killing left-wing militants.
He also got involved in contraband activities. The scheme was discovered and Guimarães and his gang were arrested. During their trial the gang members claimed the confessions had been extorted from them. Most of them said that after being beaten they had signed the confessions without reading them. In May 1979, the 21 accused were found innocent. In appeal the case was thrown out, ironically on the grounds of torture. But Guimarães’ military career had been compromised and he resigned from the Army.
(the “animal game”), a very popular illegal lottery. He started out as a manager for the bicho banker Guto, who controlled four cities in the state of Rio. After the mysterious disappearance of Guto, the chief bicheiro Tio Patinhas gave Guimarães Guto’s bank. Within three years Guimarães gained a seat on the council of seven major bicho bankers, publishing the minutes of the meetings, adjudicating the territory of smaller bankers. His territory extended from Niterói
, the lake region in Rio de Janeiro State and north to Espirito Santo
.
Following the example of his peers, he sought social legitimacy by patronizing the Unidos de Vila Isabel carnival society and became the top man in the Rio Carnival
, presiding over LIESA. Rich and famous, he dressed like a Christmas tree, with brightly coloured clothes and gold chains. He became one of the best-known leaders of organized crime in Rio.
in 1993 of involvement in the Jogo do Bicho
, along with 13 other bicho bankers such as Castor de Andrade
. They were found responsible for at least 53 deaths. They were sentenced to six years each, the maximum sentence for racketeering. But in December 1996 they were all back on the streets, granted parole or clemency.
After the death of Castor de Andrade in 1997, Antonio Petrus Kalil
, alias Turcão, and Capitão Guimarães became the most important bicheiros in Rio. "He’s the one who brought an organizational sense and structure to the game," judge Frossard said about Guimarães. "He also encouraged the group to try to capture the state, at all three levels of government and all three branches, instead of just paying off the police" according to Frossard, who has been the target of assassination attempts that she attributes to hired guns in the pay of game kingpins.
and Antonio Petrus Kalil
.
Authorities considered Capitão Guimarães to be the animal game’s boss of bosses. At a court hearing he said that he was active in the animal game only between 1982 and 1993 and that he made his living now as a "financial consultant," earning commissions of as much as $200,000 a month from clients investing in the stock market.
Jogo do Bicho
Jogo do Bicho is an illegal gambling game in Brazil, prohibited by federal law since 1946. Very popular throughout the country, the "game" is actually a lottery-type drawing operated on a regional basis by mobsters known as contraventores , bicheiros or banqueiros...
) and the patron of samba school Unidos do Viradouro. He has been the president of the Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro (LIESA) from 1987–1993 and 2001-2007.
Army captain
Capitão Guimarães is a former army captain attached to the DOI-CODIDOI-CODI
The Destacamento de Operações de Informações - Centro de Operações de Defesa Interna was the Brazilian intelligence and repression agency during the military government . This period started on March 31, 1964 with the removal of the civilian government by military forces and ended in the 1984....
involved in torture during the military dictatorship of Brazil (1964–1985). He operated out of Section II (Intelligence) of the Army Police in Rio’s Vila Militar, a unit that, like all of the dictatorship’s torture squads, received substantial rewards for capturing or killing left-wing militants.
He also got involved in contraband activities. The scheme was discovered and Guimarães and his gang were arrested. During their trial the gang members claimed the confessions had been extorted from them. Most of them said that after being beaten they had signed the confessions without reading them. In May 1979, the 21 accused were found innocent. In appeal the case was thrown out, ironically on the grounds of torture. But Guimarães’ military career had been compromised and he resigned from the Army.
Bicheiro
After his army career he got involved in the Jogo do BichoJogo do Bicho
Jogo do Bicho is an illegal gambling game in Brazil, prohibited by federal law since 1946. Very popular throughout the country, the "game" is actually a lottery-type drawing operated on a regional basis by mobsters known as contraventores , bicheiros or banqueiros...
(the “animal game”), a very popular illegal lottery. He started out as a manager for the bicho banker Guto, who controlled four cities in the state of Rio. After the mysterious disappearance of Guto, the chief bicheiro Tio Patinhas gave Guimarães Guto’s bank. Within three years Guimarães gained a seat on the council of seven major bicho bankers, publishing the minutes of the meetings, adjudicating the territory of smaller bankers. His territory extended from Niterói
Niterói
Niterói is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast region of Brazil. It has an estimated population of 487,327 inhabitants and an area of ², being the sixth most populous city in the state and the highest Human Development Index. Integrates the Metropolitan Region of Rio de...
, the lake region in Rio de Janeiro State and north to Espirito Santo
Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
.
Following the example of his peers, he sought social legitimacy by patronizing the Unidos de Vila Isabel carnival society and became the top man in the Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.-Samba schools:...
, presiding over LIESA. Rich and famous, he dressed like a Christmas tree, with brightly coloured clothes and gold chains. He became one of the best-known leaders of organized crime in Rio.
Arrest and conviction
Capitão Guimarães was found guilty by judge Denise FrossardDenise Frossard
Denise Frossard Loschi is a judge and politician from Brazil. She studied law and served as a magistrate in Rio de Janeiro. She has been a law professor at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation...
in 1993 of involvement in the Jogo do Bicho
Jogo do Bicho
Jogo do Bicho is an illegal gambling game in Brazil, prohibited by federal law since 1946. Very popular throughout the country, the "game" is actually a lottery-type drawing operated on a regional basis by mobsters known as contraventores , bicheiros or banqueiros...
, along with 13 other bicho bankers such as Castor de Andrade
Castor de Andrade
Castor Gonçalves de Andrade e Silva was a well-known bicheiro in Rio de Janeiro. Since the 1980s, Castor de Andrade was the uncontested leader of all the main bicheiros of the city of Rio de Janeiro, and had more than 100 policemen and a number of public servants, prominent politicians, and judges...
. They were found responsible for at least 53 deaths. They were sentenced to six years each, the maximum sentence for racketeering. But in December 1996 they were all back on the streets, granted parole or clemency.
After the death of Castor de Andrade in 1997, Antonio Petrus Kalil
Antonio Petrus Kalil
Antônio Petrus Kalil , known as Turcão , came to public prominence in Brazil as one of the operators of the jogo do bicho , a popular illegal lottery...
, alias Turcão, and Capitão Guimarães became the most important bicheiros in Rio. "He’s the one who brought an organizational sense and structure to the game," judge Frossard said about Guimarães. "He also encouraged the group to try to capture the state, at all three levels of government and all three branches, instead of just paying off the police" according to Frossard, who has been the target of assassination attempts that she attributes to hired guns in the pay of game kingpins.
New arrest
Capitão Guimarães, at the time president of the Independent League of Samba Schools, was among 24 people arrested on April 12, 2007, for alleged involvement with illegal numbers games, bingo parlours and the distribution of slot machines. Raids by the Federal Police have uncovered big payoffs to judges, police officers, prosecutors and lawyers from the bosses who run the game. Mounds of documents have been seized and US$6 million in cash has been confiscated. The raids were part of a major police operation, dubbed Operation Hurricane. Among the 25 arrests were fellow bicheiros Anísio Abraão DavidAnísio Abraão David
Anísio Abraão David, better known as Anísio, is an illegal lottery operator and the honorary president of the samba school Beija-Flor in Nilópolis. He has been the president of the Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro from 1985-1987.-Bicheiro:Anísio controlled the game in...
and Antonio Petrus Kalil
Antonio Petrus Kalil
Antônio Petrus Kalil , known as Turcão , came to public prominence in Brazil as one of the operators of the jogo do bicho , a popular illegal lottery...
.
Authorities considered Capitão Guimarães to be the animal game’s boss of bosses. At a court hearing he said that he was active in the animal game only between 1982 and 1993 and that he made his living now as a "financial consultant," earning commissions of as much as $200,000 a month from clients investing in the stock market.