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Influencer Ronnie Peterson Held in Brasília on Suspicion of Extorting Santa Luzia Officials

Police say conversations and images extracted from victims' phones underpin the operation.

Overview

  • Ronnie Peterson, 42, was preventively arrested on September 16 at his recording studio in Brasília's Setor Hoteleiro Norte with support from Federal District anticorruption units.
  • Investigators allege he demanded R$ 100,000 from the mayor, deputy mayor and municipal secretaries to refrain from posting defamatory content, then published attacks when they refused.
  • Authorities report he has roughly 284,000 to 300,000 followers and hosts a daily program from the studio where he was detained.
  • Police say he will be investigated for extortion, defamation and injúria as the case proceeds; the Santa Luzia municipality declined to comment.
  • Peterson told police he was trying to repay a supposed agency that hired him to target the administration but offered no proof, while his defense now claims he is the victim of a political setup.