Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) unanimously sentenced Aildo Francisco Lima to 14 years in prison for his role in the January 8, 2023, antidemocratic acts. Lima became notorious for live-streaming while sitting in Justice Alexandre de Moraes' chair during the STF invasion. The sentence includes imprisonment, detention, and fines for crimes such as violent abolition of the democratic state and attempted coup.
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court First Panel judged Aildo Francisco Lima's case in a virtual plenary, resulting in a 4-0 vote for conviction. Justices Alexandre de Moraes, Cármen Lúcia, and Flávio Dino fully supported the sentence, while Cristiano Zanin concurred with reservations. Lima was charged with five crimes: violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d'état attempt, qualified damage, deterioration of listed heritage, and criminal association. The total penalty is 12 years and 6 months of imprisonment, plus 1 year and 6 months of detention, and 100 fine days, each worth one-third of the minimum wage.
During the January 8 acts, Lima invaded the STF and sat in Moraes' chair, live-streaming: “This is Xandão's chair. Damn, now I'm a Court minister. Let's go, f***.” The defense challenged the video's authenticity, claiming the file did not match the original post, but in a Federal Police deposition, Lima denied uploading it to his social media while acknowledging its authorship.
Lima was preventively arrested on September 27, 2023, in Campo Limpo Paulista (SP), by the Federal Police. The arrest was upheld unanimously in June 2024. In April 2025, Moraes granted house arrest with precautionary measures, including an electronic ankle monitor, bans on social media, contact with other involved parties, interviews, or visits except from lawyers and family. The defense told Metrópoles that he did not enter public buildings or damage property.
