Driver sentenced to 21 years for robbery of Chinese businessman in São José dos Campos

According to the sentence, he acted as a driver, transporting the others involved in the crime and helping them escape. Two other defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The decision was defined this Monday (9). The crime took place on November 22, 2025.

Judge Brenno Gimenes Cesca found Marcos guilty of participating in the robbery. During the investigation, he admitted that he acted as a driver and stated that he knew that the others involved intended to commit a robbery.

In the decision, the magistrate pointed out that there was a division of tasks between those involved and that Marcos agreed to participate in the criminal action. The judge also considered that the victim's death was a predictable result given the violence used in the crime.

In addition to the prison sentence, Marcos was ordered to pay R$32,400 to the merchant's heirs for moral damages. The other two defendants, Lucas Bezerra da Silva and Lucas dos Santos Rodrigues, were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The judge considered that the statement presented during the investigation was not confirmed in court and that the images analyzed did not allow the suspects' faces to be identified. Therefore, according to the sentence, there was not enough evidence to convict the pair.

In a statement, Marcos do Amaral Silva's defense informed that it will analyze the appropriate resources. Lucas Bezerra da Silva's defense stated that they welcome the defendant's acquittal with relief. g1 was unable to locate Lucas dos Santos Rodrigues' defense.

According to information from the case, the criminals tried to steal R$790 and the victim's cell phone. According to the incident report, the merchant was shot in the head and chest, around 9:30 pm, in the parking lot of the establishment, located on Avenida São Jerônimo.

Rescue was called, but the victim succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene.