A son of Brazilian football star Pele will face 33 years in jail after being convicted of laundering money for a drug cartel.
The Praia Grande criminal court in Sao Paulo convicted Edson “Edhino” Cholbi Nascimento, 43, along with four other men including cartel leader Ronaldo “Naldinho” Duarte Barsotti.
Edinho denies the charges, which date from 2005, and Pele has previously stated “there is not a shred of evidence against my son”.
He will remain free pending appeal.
Edinho is Pele’s third child from his first marriage and followed his father into professional football. He was goalkeeper for the Brazilian club Santos in the 1990s, including during their 1995 Brazilian league final loss to Botafogo.
