Businessman José Hélio Bezerra Júnior dies in Rio Branco hospital

José Hélio Bezerra Júnior, a businessman known as the ‘Rei do iPhone’ (King of iPhone), has died in the intensive care unit of the Rio Branco Emergency Care Unit. Authorities from the Acre Penitentiary Administration Institute (Iapen-AC) and the Acre Penal Police confirmed that the cause of death was a cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Bezerra Júnior had been in preventive detention for approximately one year and four months at the Dr. Francisco de Oliveira Conde Penitentiary Complex, facing allegations of money laundering. He was hospitalized on August 1 after experiencing health complications and was moved to the ICU on August 3.

While prison authorities issued statements clarifying that the death occurred in a hospital rather than within the prison facilities, the deceased's brother has challenged this narrative. The brother announced intentions to release a video claiming to expose the ‘real cause of death’ and alleging a lack of support from the Iapen/AC. He also indicated plans to report the case to the Acre Public Ministry (MPAC) for investigation.