Brazalian Soccer Player Given Prison Sentence

Tue., Jan. 21, 1997

Reinaldo, a forward on the Brazilian soccer team that finished third in the 1978 World Cup, was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday for drug trafficking.

The conviction came as a surprise because Reinaldo appeared headed for acquittal Thursday after the prosecutor asked that charges be dropped.

But Judge Eli Lucas de Mendonca decided against the prosecution request and convicted Reinaldo of associating with drug traffickers, said head clerk Eutides Marcio Sarmento. Reinaldo’s lawyer has five days to appeal.

Reinaldo, 39, was charged with trafficking in October, when three men were arrested with 600 grams of cocaine in a car belonging to Reinaldo. The three testified that Reinaldo routinely lent them the car in exchange for part of the cocaine they bought.

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Brazalian Soccer Player Given Prison Sentence

Jesse Tinsley

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