Pele’s son Edinho jailed for 33 years

The son of Brazil football legend Pele has been jailed for 33 years after being convicted of money laundering for a drugs cartel. Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, also known as Edinho, who is 43, was given an identical sentence to four other members of an alleged gang that distributed drugs in the South East of Brazil, including cocaine in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

The cartel’s boss Ronaldo Duarte Barsotti, known as Naldinho, also got 33 years in his absence.

Edinho, who is currently employed by football club Santos – Pele’s old team – as a goalkeeping coach, remains out of jail while he appeals against his conviction.

The gang was based in Santos, and prosecutors said Edinho acted as a “link between the armed and the financial parts” of the gang.

According to Santos-based newspaper The Tribune, the court heard that in a phone call Naldinho and Edinho discussed opening a new business, with the latter allegedly saying that if the former supplied the money then he would “provide the name.”

In a country where there is no bigger name than Pele it is thought that is the name he was referring to. Edinho is Pele’s third son from his first marriage. He too became a professional footballer playing in goal for Santos, but rarely as first choice.