STJ Keeps Man in Prison for Blowing Up Supermarket in MT in Bitcoin Scam

The Superior Court of Justice (STJ) denied the appeal of a man convicted for bomb attacks in the state of Mato Grosso, and Minister Maria Marluce Caldas rejected the defense's appeals.

Rodrigo received punishments after blowing up a commercial establishment to extort cryptocurrencies from the chain of stores. He demanded the transfer of R$ 300,000 in bitcoin under the threat of destroying the company's branches.

The crime occurred in the city of Rondonópolis in April 2023. The violent act injured two people, including a child, and caused panic among the consumers present at the location.

Extortion with Cryptocurrencies and Explosion

The criminal contacted the administrators of Supermercado Tropical via cell phone messages. The refusal to pay the extortion resulted in the detonation of a device at the unit in the Vila Operária neighborhood.

Shrapnel from the device hit a seven-year-old boy and an adult woman in the market. Both victims suffered serious injuries and underwent emergency surgeries at local hospitals.

With the damages confirmed, the offender demanded the digital money again the day after the initial attack. Thus, civil and military police evacuated a second store to disarm a new explosive cylinder planted on the shelves.

Serious Injuries and Panic in the City

The attacked child suffered severe fractures in the pelvis and legs after the bomb detonated. Another person hit had their foot tendons ruptured and required three months of complete rest.

Doctors removed dozens of fragments thrown against the boy's face and eyes. The two targets of the violence survived due to the immediate assistance provided by citizens present.

Local merchants closed their stores during the bomb squad's sweep. Specialized agents from the Special Police Operations Battalion (Bope) ensured the safety of the entire urban perimeter.

Defense Maneuvers in Court

Judges from lower instances proved the issuance of the court order before the start of the urban operation. Thus, the court validated the collected evidence and dismissed suspicions of flaws in the investigations.

Defense lawyers for the bomb man attempted to annul the search and seizure at the accused's home with complaints about the physical warrant. The defense members claimed the absence of the paper document in the hands of the police at the time of the invasion.

The rapporteur of the case at the STJ reinforced the legality of the incursion supported by data from the justice system. She blocked the attempt to review evidence based on the strict rules set by the court's summaries.

Bomb man tried to reduce sentence, but STJ denied appeal (Image obtained by Livecoins reporting in process).

Risk of Deaths from Artifacts

Another argument from the defenders sought to classify the crime with limited intentions and a single financial objective. Popular judges of the panel dismissed this thesis upon realizing the eventual intent in Rodrigo's conduct.

The author of the explosion assumed the risk of killing several people by triggering the charge in a crowded environment. Chemicals stored near the shelf increased the destructive capacity of the terrorist attack in the market.

This scenario configures autonomous designs in the view of criminal law adopted by the Brazilian state. Justice added the punishments separately for each victim pierced by metal fragments.

Final Conviction of Federal Justice

The Court of Justice of the State of Mato Grosso (TJMT) adjusted the punishment to 43 years and 10 months of imprisonment. The sentence on appeal imposed a closed initial regime for the enforcement of the entire prison order.

In addition to the restriction of freedom, the court stipulated the payment of 55 days of fines for the offender.

Finally, the tracking of phones and security cameras ensured the exact identification of the man responsible for the terror.