Suspect of threatening Minas Gerais deputies with rape and death is arrested in Pernambuco

According to the investigation, the defendant, detained in Olinda, made threats on anonymous group forums on the internet

The main suspect of threatening rape and death against Minas Gerais state deputies Lohanna França (PV), Bella Gonçalves (PSOL) and Beatriz Cerqueira (PT) was arrested this Tuesday, 7th, in Olinda (PE). The investigations began in August last year and are in the third phase of the operation titled Di@na.

This is a task force composed of the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG) together with the Civil (PCMG) and Military (PMMG) police. The suspect is accused of inciting violence against victims in Chans, anonymous online spaces where only men are allowed, and also of coercing teenagers to send him nude photos and practice self-harm.

The action was supported by the Special Action Group against Organized Crime of the Public Ministry of Pernambuco (MPPE). The investigators identified the nicknames Leon and Grow, identified as being used by the group’s leader.

Computers, phones and flash drives were seized along with the suspect, who was ordered to be detained in preventive custody. The defendant will be transferred to the Minas Gerais Prison System to respond to the process.

Remember the case

In August 2023, deputy Lohanna França (PV) received death and rape threats in her institutional email from the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais (ALMG). The message stated that the parliamentarian “promotes female degeneration and irresponsibility” and that she would be raped and killed. The offender also mentioned that she knew the place where França and her family live.

After receiving the threat, the deputy gathered the employees who identified the message and reported the case to the Legislative Police. Bella Gonçalves (PSOL) also received threats in her institutional email. The congresswoman reports on her account on

In August 2023, Cristiano Caporezzo (PL), a colleague of the parliamentarians at ALMG, released a video in which Bella Gonçalves appears with a police escort and questioning the reason for the escort. After this, new attacks were carried out against the deputies.

Other parliamentarians from Minas Gerais received threats of rape and death, but the investigation points to the accused’s connection only with the cases of Lohanna França (PV), Bella Gonçalves (PSOL) and Beatriz Cerqueira (PT).