His headquarters was the seedy Hotel Aliado. Whenever de Jesus needed new employees, the report said, he sent recruiters to the cities and villages of Rio Grande do Sul and the neighboring states of Santa Catarina and Paran . They typically believe that this is something that only happens in the poor northeast. The series led to a police investigation in which de Jesus was indicted on charges of corrupting minors. He remains a free man.
Critics blame shoddy policework and a slow and overloaded justice system.
However, Nelmo Bonnett, Porto Alegre's Metropolitan Chief of Police, says it's difficult to build a case against de Jesus and others without catching them in the act. De Jesus denies all charges, claiming to be a car salesmen even though he has testified that he doesn't own or work at a dealership. A municipal law states that establishments closed for employing child prostitutes in Porto Alegre can reopen after 30 days if it's a first offense. In 1995, eight hotels and 10 nightclubs were closed by the police and subsequently reopened. We bust them and they come right back.