Rio State Deputy Detains Man Posing as Fantástico Reporter in R$10,000 Extortion Case

Overview

• The suspect, identified as Júlio César de Oliveira Silva Rodrigues, allegedly claimed to be from Fantástico and sought R$10,000 to suppress a purported report about Deputy Alexandre Knoploch.
• Knoploch detained the man in his Alerj office and took him to the 5th Police Station, where he was booked in the act on extortion charges.
• TV Globo stated the individual worked in its machinery area, had been on medical leave since 2023, had no connection to its journalism, and was dismissed.
• The company reported the case to the Civil Police via a criminal complaint prior to the arrest.
• The Civil Police are investigating whether others were targeted, and the suspect’s legal defense has not commented.