Antônio Petrus Kalil (March 18, 1925 – January 28, 2019), "Aos 82, Turcão já não comanda os negócios da família", Folha de S. Paulo, April 22, 2007; also available here , Ministério da Fazenda, accessed December 31, 2010. known as Turcão ("Big Turk"), was one of the operators of the jogo do bicho ("the animal game"), a popular illegal lottery in Brazil. Kalil ran the game in a number of towns, including Niterói, and was one of 14 bicheiros or banqueiros—"bankers" as the game's operators are known—who were sentenced to six years' imprisonment in May 1993 for operating a criminal association. Kalil's brother Jose, known as "Zinho", was among those convicted. Denise Frossard, the judge in the case, wrote in 2007 that it was the first time the existence of a mafia-type organization had been recognized in Brazil.For the preceding details of the game, where Kalil ran it, and his sentencing, see Frossard, Denise. "Women in Organized Crime in Brazil", in Fiandaca, Giovanni (ed.). Women and the Mafia. Springer, 2007, pp. 200–201, particularly p. 201. For confirmation that Frossard was the judge in the case, see: Margolis, Mac. "Last Samba for Brazil's Powerful Lottery Lords?", Los Angeles Times, May 25, 1993; Rohter, Larry. "Brazilian Numbers Game Ties Officials to Mobsters", The New York Times, June 7, 2007. According to Frossard, Kalil was one of the organization's bosses in 1981.Frossard 2007, p. 194. In April 2007, he was among 24 people charged for involvement with the illegal lottery, as well as bingo parlours and the distribution of slot machines.For confirmation of the arrest and the charges, see Brazil police crack down on gambling, Associated Press, April 13, 2007; for confirmation that Kalil was among the arrestees, see: Brazil's federal police stages anti-corruption operation, People's Daily, April 14, 2007Uma operação realizada pela PF (Polícia Federal) nesta sexta-feira prendeu autoridades da Justiça, da própria PF e do Carnaval do Rio suspeitas de envolvimento em um esquema de exploração de jogos ilegais, principalmente bingos e caça-níqueis. [...] Já os suspeitos ligados ao Carnaval carioca são o presidente da Liesa (Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba do Rio de Janeiro), Ailton Guimarães Jorge, chamado de capitão Guimarães; um sobrinho dele, identificado como Júlio Guimarães; o presidente do conselho da Liesa e presidente de honra da Beija-Flor de Nilópolis, Aniz Abraão David; além de Antonio Petrus Kalil, o Turcão. (An operation performed by the PF (Federal Police) on Friday resulted in the arrest of authorities of the judiciary, the PF itself and the Carnival of Rio suspected of involvement in a scheme of operating illegal gambling, especially bingo and slot machines. [...] The suspects linked to the Rio Carnival are the president of Liesa (Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro), Ailton Guimarães Jorge, called Captain Guimarães, a nephew, identified as Julius Guimarães; the president Liesa council and honorary president of Beija-Flor from Nilópolis, Anise Abraham David, as well as Antonio Petrus Kalil, the Turcão.) Operação prende integrantes da Justiça, da PF e do Carnaval no Rio, Folha online, March 13, 2007 On March 13, 2012, he was sentenced to 48 years in prison and a fine of BRL 11 million (about US$6 million) for conspiracy and corruption, together with the other bicho bosses Anísio Abraão David and Capitão Guimarães. Os 23 condenados na Operação Hurricane, seus crimes e penas, O Globo online, March 13, 2012
Illegal lottery Kalil's illegal lottery business is based in Niterói in the State of Rio de Janeiro.Antônio Petrus Kalil, o Turcão: Da geração de Castor, é um dos últimos grandes banqueiros do bicho no Rio. Tem base em Niterói, mas teria negócios no Nordeste. … Preso na Operação Hurricane. (Antonio Petrus Kalil, Turcão: One of the last big bankers of the animal game in Rio from the generation of Castor, has his base in Niteroi, but has businesses in the Northeast. … Arrested in Operation Hurricane.) Bicheiros expandem "negócios", Correio Braziliense, April 22, 2007 His brother, José Petrus Kalil or "Zinho", controlled the Jogo do Bicho in the city center of Rio de Janeiro, and acted as the spokesperson of the bicheiros.José Petrus Khalil, o Zinho: O irmão de Turcão comandava o bicho no Centro da cidade. Ficou conhecido por atuar durante muito tempo como o porta-voz dos contraventores. (José Petrus Khalil, Zinho: The brother of Turcão commanded the animal game in the city center. For a long time he has been known to act as spokesman for the offenders.) Bicheiros expandem "negócios", Correio Braziliense, April 22, 2007
According to judge Frossard and public prosecutor Antônio Carlos Biscaia, the bicheiros built an association (known as the cupola do bicho), that controlled the illegal gambling business and shielded it from prosecution by corrupting authorities and police.Frossard 2007, pp. 186-189… o Ministério Público apurou o envolvimento de "banqueiros" em mais de 130 homicídios relacionados com o jogo do bicho e comprovou o esquema de corrupção centralizado e dirigido por Castor de Andrade …, que contabilizou a propina a policiais civis e militares, servidores públicos, inclusive do Ministério Público e do Judiciário, e até a conhecidos políticos que receberam ajuda financeira para suas comprometidas campanhas eleitorais. (The public prosecutor found the involvement of the "bankers" in more than 130 homicides related to the animal game and proved the corruption scheme directed by Castor de Andrade …, which accounted for the bribing of civilian and military police, public servants, including prosecutors and the judiciary, and even prominent politicians who received financial aid for their electoral campaign.) A volta dos bicheiros, by Antônio Carlos Biscaia, O Globo, March 22, 1998 Kalil was one of the founders of the cupola and served as its head for a while.Frossard 2007, p. 186 The cupola established itself when a power conflict between the bicheiros ceased at the beginning of the 1980s after the murder of an ex-policeman linked to the association that tried to intrude in the gambling racket in Niteroi controlled by Turcao and another prominent illegal gambling operator, Ailton Guimaraes Jorge, nicknamed Capitao Guimaraes. (The murder remained unsolved)Frossard 2007, p. 186 and p. 200
Over the years, Kalil expanded his business to northern Minas Gerais, and the city of Salvador de Bahia, as well as outside Brazil, to Paraguay, where he owned a casino. His reach also extended to the state of Pernambuco in the North-East of Brazil, which raised protest among local gambling operators. According to a local gambling operator, Kalil was making BRL 500,000 (approximately US$300,000) per month in 2002 in Pernambuco."Sempre tivemos um jogo limpo, sem violência nem envolvimento com o crime organizado. Agora, toda a podridão do Rio de Janeiro está instalada aqui", diz um empresário e dono de banca, que pediu para não ser identificado por temer pela própria vida. Ele garante que Antônio Turcão está faturando R$ 500 mil por mês com o jogo em Pernambuco. ("We always had a clean game without violence or involvement with organized crime. Now, all the rottenness of Rio de Janeiro is installed here," says a businessman and owner of banks, who asked not to be identified because he feared for his life. He ensures that Antonio Turcão is billing $ 500 thousand per month with the game in Pernambuco.) Bicheiro do Rio dá as cartas em Pernambuco, Diário de Pernambuco, February 3, 2002. The article states that Antônio Petrus Kalil was accused of controlling the "Associação dos Vendedores Autônomos de Loterais de Pernambuco" (translates roughly to Pernambuco's Association of Lottery Sellers); the accusations came from some participants of the gambling industry; they accused anonymously, for fear of vindictive actions; they describe the Pernambuco's gambling industry as becoming corrupted after the arrival of Antônio Turcão, who set out to control the entire industry; he is also accused of obtaining support from local politicians through sponsorship of their campaigns. He was guaranteeing high stakes games for small gambling operators in the state.O bicheiro atuaria no Estado como uma espécie de bombeiro, que cobre jogos altos para os pequenos donos de banca. (The bookmaker in the state would act as a kind of fire extinguisher, covering high games for the small owners of banks.) Bicheiros dizem que deputado é intermediário, Diário de Pernambuco, February 5, 2002. The article claims that state deputy Fernando Lupa mediated the negotiations between the Rio de Janeiro mafia and the Pernambuco's jogo do bicho lottery; the article also tells about investigations being carried out by the police, with no concrete outcome at that time.
1993 arrest and conviction Turcão and his brother "Zinho" were among the 14 bicheiros of Rio de Janeiro who were arrested in 1993. In May 1993, Judge Denise Frossard convicted the 14 bicheiros to six years of prison for criminal association and racketeering.Territorial and Corrosive: The “jogo do bicho” (Animal Game) and Organized Crime in Brazil, by Daniel N. Coelho, International Journal on Criminology, Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2018 The trial confirmed that a mafia-type criminal organization existed which was headed by the cupola.Foi o maior julgamento de contraventores no estado. Em maio de 1993, Anisío Abraão David, Ailton Guimarães Jorge, o capitão Guimarães, José Pretus Kalil, o Turcão, e outros onze bicheiros foram condenados pela juíza Denise Frossard, a seis anos de prisão, pena máxima por formação de quadrilha. (It was the most important verdict against the offenders in the State [of Rio de Janeiro]. In May 1993, Anisío Abraão David, Ailton Guimarães Jorge, a.k.a. Captain Guimarães, Jose Pretus Kalil, a.k.a. Turcão, and others eleven bicheiros were condemned by judge Denise Frossard, to six years of prison, the maximum penalty for racketeering.) Contraventores já foram condenados há 14 anos, O Globo online, April 13, 2007. See also Last Samba for Brazil's Powerful Lottery Lords?, Los Angeles Times, May 25, 1993
While imprisoned, they continued their business via cell phones supplied to them by corrupted police officers.Frossard 2007, p. 189 During the trial there were indications of money laundering and tax evasion, but the defendants could not be charged because money laundering only became a crime in Brazil in 1998. According to the newspaper O Globo, 53 deaths could be attributed to the association.Havia oficialmente 53 mortes imputadas ao grupo. (53 deaths were formally attributed to the group.) The group being the 14 bicheros sentenced in 1993. Contraventores já foram condenados há 14 anos, O Globo online, April 13, 2007 By December 1996 they were all released from prison, granted parole or pardons.Pouco mais de três anos depois, favorecidos por liberdade condicional ou indultos, todos já estavam em liberdade. (Just over three years later, favored by parole or pardons, everyone was free.) Contraventores já foram condenados há 14 anos, O Globo online, April 13, 2007