Junior Pionga – a 31-year-old Jiu-Jitsu instructor – was arrested last Tuesday in Novo Airão, Amazona…
Due to allegations about luring, threatening, and stalking his teenage students.

According to Chief Rodrigo Monfroni, the media manager of Pionga’s BJJ social project filed a police report – after discovering disturbing social media conversations between the instructor and the students.

Investigation revealed that Pionga did send messages with sexual content to multiple minors, including requesting intimate photos from a 13-year-old girl.
Pionga allegedly began a campaign of harassment against those who spoke out against his behavior (after being found out), even firing two teachers who testified about his behavior.

During the investigation, it was also discovered that Pionga is facing two separate cases of statutory rape from 2023, involving individuals aged 11 and 13.
Additionally, one of the 13-year-olds reported receiving explicit messages and being inappropriately touched during training sessions.

Then, in February the mother of an 11-year-old reported being physically attacked by two armed men who demanded she withdraw her complaint.
They said:

If something happens to Júnior Pionga, the message has already been sent.

Just ten days after this incident, the target’s 17-year-old brother was allegedly attacked in public as retaliation as well.

An 11-year-old confirmed receiving personal photos from Pionga on her cell phone, accompanied by threats:

I’m a black belt, I can break you in the street.
No one will believe you.

Based on the evidence gathered, Pionga was located and arrested on Tuesday.

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