Three men sentenced to decades in prison for impersonating police in Colatina robbery

A couple was psychologically traumatized, physically restrained with handcuffs, and robbed of gold jewelry during a violent home invasion.
They arrived armed and masked, presenting themselves as police
The criminals used impersonation and deception to gain entry to the home before restraining the couple.

Em Colatina, no Espírito Santo, três homens foram condenados a penas que variam entre 26 e 31 anos de prisão por um assalto à residência cuidadosamente planejado, no qual se passaram por policiais civis para enganar e subjugar um casal. O crime, que combinou violência física, ameaças psicológicas e a corrosiva traição de quem usa a autoridade como disfarce, foi investigado pela Delegacia Especializada de Crimes e resultou em condenações que refletem a gravidade da premeditação. A justiça, porém, permanece incompleta: um quarto suspeito segue foragido, lembrando que a resolução plena de um crime é, muitas vezes, um horizonte em movimento.

  • Três homens armados e mascarados se apresentaram como investigadores da polícia civil para convencer um casal a abrir a porta de casa — uma encenação fria e calculada que transformou a confiança em arma.
  • Uma vez dentro, algemaram as vítimas e as submeteram a ameaças contínuas enquanto recolhiam sistematicamente joias de ouro e outros pertences, deixando um rastro de trauma psicológico difícil de mensurar.
  • A Delegacia Especializada de Crimes de Colatina conduziu a investigação e comprovou que o assalto foi premeditado, fator determinante para a severidade das penas impostas pelo tribunal.
  • André Felipe Carvalho Veloso recebeu 31 anos, 8 meses e 4 dias; seus dois cúmplices foram condenados a 26 anos, 1 mês e 17 dias cada — sentenças ainda passíveis de recurso.
  • Um quarto suspeito, Leidivan de Souza Coelho, de 42 anos, permanece foragido e acredita-se estar em Minas Gerais, mantendo a investigação em aberto e a sensação de encerramento fora do alcance.

Um tribunal do Espírito Santo condenou três homens pelas penas mais severas previstas para o crime de roubo qualificado após uma invasão domiciliar em Colatina marcada pela frieza e pela premeditação. André Felipe Carvalho Veloso, de 24 anos, recebeu a maior pena: 31 anos, 8 meses e 4 dias. Seus cúmplices, Marcos Eduardo Martins Assunção e Carlos Eduardo Pereira Calda, foram condenados a 26 anos, 1 mês e 17 dias cada. Os três já haviam sido presos em operações distintas nas cidades de São Gabriel da Palha e São Mateus.

O crime seguiu um roteiro deliberado. Armados e encobertos por máscaras, os homens se apresentaram à porta da residência como policiais civis — uma encenação projetada para vencer a desconfiança natural das vítimas. Ao entrar, algemaram o casal e, sob ameaças constantes, recolheram joias de ouro e outros pertences. Para os promotores, não foi a brutalidade isolada que pesou na sentença, mas a evidência de que cada etapa havia sido planejada com antecedência.

A Delegacia Especializada de Crimes de Colatina conduziu a investigação que sustentou as condenações. As sentenças ainda podem ser contestadas em grau de recurso, e o caso não está encerrado: Leidivan de Souza Coelho, de 42 anos, apontado como o quarto envolvido, permanece foragido e é procurado em Minas Gerais. Enquanto ele não for localizado, a investigação segue ativa e a história desse crime permanece, para as autoridades, sem ponto final.

A court in Espírito Santo has handed down substantial prison sentences against three men who orchestrated a carefully planned home invasion robbery in Colatina, gaining entry by posing as civil police officers. André Felipe Carvalho Veloso, twenty-four, received the longest sentence: thirty-one years, eight months, and four days. His two accomplices, Marcos Eduardo Martins Assunção and Carlos Eduardo Pereira Calda, both twenty-two and twenty-four respectively, were each sentenced to twenty-six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison. All three men had already been apprehended by state police in separate operations conducted in the towns of São Gabriel da Palha and São Mateus.

The crime itself bore the hallmarks of deliberate preparation. The men arrived armed and wearing masks, presenting themselves as police investigators to convince the residents to open their door. Once inside, they moved quickly to restrain the couple with handcuffs, subjecting them to sustained threats while they systematically collected gold jewelry and other valuables from the home. The psychological dimension of the assault—the violation of trust that comes from criminals impersonating law enforcement—weighed heavily in the investigation and prosecution.

The Specialized Criminal Investigation Division of Colatina conducted the inquiry that led to these convictions. Prosecutors built their case on evidence that the robbery had been methodically planned rather than opportunistic, a factor that influenced the severity of the sentences handed down. The court's judgment is not yet final; the three convicted men retain the right to appeal.

Yet the case remains incomplete. A fourth suspect, Leidivan de Souza Coelho, forty-two years old and believed to be residing in Minas Gerais, has evaded capture. Civil police continue active search operations to locate him and bring him into custody. Until that happens, investigators will regard the investigation as ongoing, the crime as not fully resolved.

The action was highly premeditated, carried out by armed men wearing masks who simulated a police operation to deceive the victims and guarantee entry to the property
— Court records from the case
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Inventor

Why would criminals go to the trouble of impersonating police rather than simply breaking in?

Model

Because it works. A couple sees what they believe are legitimate officers at their door—they open it. There's no forced entry, no alarm, no struggle to get inside. The psychological advantage is enormous.

Inventor

And the handcuffs—was that part of the deception, or did it come after?

Model

After. Once they were inside and the door was closed, the masks came off and the real purpose became clear. The cuffs were about control—keeping the victims immobilized and compliant while they searched for valuables.

Inventor

The sentences are quite long. What made this case warrant thirty-one years?

Model

The premeditation. This wasn't a spontaneous act. They planned it, acquired masks and weapons, coordinated their movements. The court saw calculation and intent to cause harm, not just theft.

Inventor

And the fourth man—why is he still free?

Model

He's in another state. Minas Gerais is a large place, and people can disappear into it if they have resources or connections. The police know who he is, but knowing and finding are different things.

Inventor

Do you think he'll be caught?

Model

Eventually, probably. These cases don't close. The police keep searching, and eventually someone talks, or he makes a mistake, or he surfaces somewhere. But it could take months or years.

Contact Us FAQ