Leader of Brazil's biggest bank robbery sentenced to 80 years in prison

Eleven people were convicted of money laundering, by the Federal Court in Ceará, due to involvement in the robbery of the Central Bank in Fortaleza, which happened in August 2005.  Known as the "German", Jussivan Antonio Alves dos Santos was condemned as the gang leader for planning and committing the robbery. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison for money laundering, but he is already serving a sentence of 35 years for theft, criminal conspiracy and use of forged documents.

According to the investigation of the Federal Police (PF in the Portuguese acronym), the "German" bought several goods with his part of the robbed money, using middle-men's name and being supported by the other ten defendants. According to the PF, he “laundered” money in Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and the Federal District, where he was arrested in 2008 after three years as a fugitive.

Among the gang leader's assets, there are houses—including a property in his hometown, Boa Viagem, in Ceará—farms and gas stations, in addition to cars, motorcycles and a boat.

The Central Bank robbery—considered the country's biggest bank robbery and one of the world's biggest property crimes—has already resulted in 28 criminal cases involving 133 defendants.

In order to enter the bank, the gang members dug a 75-meter long tunnel, connecting the rented house, where the group has set up a shell company, to a vault across the avenue. During a weekend they managed to steal R$164 million ($46.4 million in today's values) in ballots with R$50 banknotes (equivalent to almost $15) that had been withdrawn to verify their conservation. So far, however, only about $8.5 million has been recovered.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta