Pedro Rocha Filho, known as “Coroa,” is a Brazilian former criminal whose name became associated with a major series of bank robberies across Brazil’s Northeast during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He was a member of the group led by Valdetário Carneiro, one of the region’s best-known criminal figures of that period. Recent reporting based on Rocha’s own account and historical records states that he participated in more than one hundred bank robberies across Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Paraíba and Pernambuco.
Rocha was arrested several times during his criminal career. His final arrest occurred in July 2002, when he was captured in Alagoas by the Federal Police after years of investigations and searches involving authorities from several northeastern states. Historical reporting identified him as a member of Valdetário Carneiro’s group, which carried out attacks on banks and other financial targets in smaller cities throughout the region.
His criminal record resulted in a total sentence of 131 years and eight months. According to reporting published in 2026, Rocha served 26 years, eight months and five days of that sentence before being granted house arrest in September 2021. A 2021 report from local media also documented his arrest in Mossoró after a judicial warrant was issued in connection with robbery and criminal association.
Rocha’s story has also become the subject of historical and journalistic work. Journalist and correctional officer Márcio Morais documented his trajectory in the book “Pedro Rocha – A História de um dos Mais Temidos Assaltantes de Bancos do Nordeste.” The work draws on interviews with people connected to the investigations, including law-enforcement officials and individuals who knew members of the group.
In 2026, Rocha was again featured in national media, reflecting on his past and describing the consequences of the life he once led. His story provides a documented account of a period when organized bank-robbery groups operated across several northeastern states and became a major concern for regional law enforcement.
SOURCES
UOL — 2026
UOL — “Roubei mais de 100 bancos e não tenho onde morar”
Record / R7 — 2026
Record — Pedro Rocha Filho and his history of bank robberies
Portal 98 FM Natal — 2021
98 FM — Arrest of Pedro Rocha Filho
Na Boca da Noite — 2025
Na Boca da Noite — Book about Pedro Rocha Filho
O Vale do Apodi — 2026
O Vale do Apodi — Book about Pedro Rocha
