Biofuels facility in Brazil, destroyed by organized crime.
Donation protected
Help Restore Justice: $20 Million Lost | Bio Clean Energy vs. Tricon Energy, Organized Crime
Please donate $1.00 and share with others. We are doing the heavy lifting but any support is apreciated. We are looking for US legal counsel with experience in RICO claims that is willing to work on contingency.
Our company, Bio Clean Energy, was invaded by criminals with ties to Tricon Energy by armed gangs with the intention to sell methanol illegally, diverting it to gas stations to mix into adulterated gasoline. We lost our entire $20 million investment while criminals and complicit officials profited. Help us fight for justice and expose the truth
My name is John Kaweske, I am american citizen. I am the President and Director of Bio Clean Energy in Brazil. Operainting under the subsidiary, Bio Petro Produção e Comercialização de Biocombustíveis Ltda (“Bio Petro”), a licensed biodiesel producer in Brazil.
I am seeking support and justice after my entire company and $20 million investment were destroyed by a coordinated campaign of corporate fraud, organized crime, and corruption facilitated, in my belief, by Tricon Energy.
Supporting Documents and Emails via link
Here is a video of my attempt to regain control. This was thwarted by Tricon employee bribing my security company with $20,000 after I left the location.
BIG QUESTIONS: NO OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION EVER IN BRAZIL DESPITE TOTAL LOSS AND CRIME REPORTED!
Timeline of Events, with All Key Facts and Evidence
November 1, 2016: First Contact with Tricon
I emailed and called, Cleber Fernandes of Tricon Energy Brazil, attaching Bio Petro’s bylaws and explicitly informing Tricon that only I (John Kaweske) was authorized to transact business for Bio Petro.
My attorney, Rodrigo Palaia, was copied on this email.
I stated, “No one outside of myself is authorized to approve purchases of methanol. If you are contacted by anyone else, it is not valid.”
Cleber Fernandes responded that other parties were already contacting Tricon, claiming to represent Bio Petro for methanol purchases.
He suggested I should also notify, Marina Nicolia at Tricon about this.
November 2, 2016: Written Reaffirmation
I emailed Marina Nicolia at Tricon with a copy of our bylaws. I clarified in writing (again) that third parties had 'no authority' to act for Bio Petro.
I copied Reynaldo Ramalhoso (Commercial Director of Bio Petro), Cleber Fernandes, and my attorney Rodrigo Palaia.
I told Tricon that only myself or, in limited cases, our Commercial Director (named above) could ever close a purchase.
I requested all commercial discussions be kept confidential for the safety and integrity of the company.
Cleber Fernandes responded confirming receipt and acknowledged the need for only one authorized channel.
November 4, 2016: Final Confirmation
I followed up again, sending my direct phone number and confirming my Brazilian phone also works in the US.
January 19, 2017: Discovery of Unauthorized Transactions
The Agência Nacional de Petróleo (ANP) informed me that methanol purchases had been conducted in the name of Bio Petro without my authorization.
I called Tricon Energy and was referred to Sr. Fratta at Tricon. I spoke with him and followed up by email, requesting all NF (Nota Fiscal) and documentation for these transactions.
I repeated that 'only I' or the designated Commercial Director were ever authorized for purchases.
Tricon did not respond.
January 25, 2017: Formal Legal Notification
My company’s attorney, Rodrigo Palaia, sent a legal notification (“Notificação Jurídica”) by email and SEDEX (Brazilian Version of FEDEX operated by the mail) courier to four individuals at Tricon:
Sr. Fratta
Cleber Fernandes
Marina Nicolia
Antonio Santos
The letter:
Provided full bylaws and company registration, reaffirming my exclusive authority as Director President.
Notified Tricon of 'illegal use of Bio Petro’s identity' and the lack of any legitimate third-party leasing or authority.
Cited legal case #1007281-20.2016.8.26.0037 and #1013714-40.2016.8.26.0037 (2ª Vara Cível de Araraquara/SP), which confirmed third parties could not legally possess or operate the Bio Petro plant.
Stated that any methanol acquisition or product sale not signed by me was illicit and invalid.
No response received from Tricon.
2016–2017: Ongoing Fraud, Illegal Use, and Black Market Sales
Despite repeated legal warnings, Tricon Energy continued to process methanol sales using Bio Petro’s licenses, documents, and plant, without any approval from me.
According to an ex-associate of Tricon, this was standard practice at Tricon Brazil: methanol was illegally diverted into black-market channels, including gasoline stations, with alleged kickbacks to executives at Tricon.
The price gap between methanol and ethanol created a lucrative illegal market in Brazil.
These actions not only destroyed my company’s but left Bio Petro exposed to regulatory and tax liability for activities I did not authorize.
Total Losses
Our entire facility was lost.
The full investment in Brazil over $20,000,000 is gone.
All Bio Petro employees lost their jobs. My family and I lost everything we built.
We are now being sued by Brazilian authorities for tax liabilities and obligations arising from unauthorized transactions. However, when we needed the police to act they would not assist us even though police reports were filed.
Repeated criminal reports to the police and court system resulted in no meaningful action.
In my experience and belief, bribery and organized crime enabled this. Local authorities, courts, and police refused to intervene.
Organized Crime and Tricon Energy’s Involvement
There is strong circumstantial evidence and credible information connecting Tricon Energy to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital), the most powerful organized crime syndicate in Brazil.
Based on all facts and my direct experience, I believe Tricon Energy’s Brazil operations are directly associated with organized crime organizations.
The pattern of ignoring legal notices, continued unauthorized transactions, and local authority inaction all point to corruption and criminal collusion.
Desperate Appeal to Tricon Energy U.S. Headquarters to no avail.
On July 11, 2017, after all options in Brazil were exhausted, I contacted Tricon’s headquarters in Houston, TX (777 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 550) by both email and registered mail.
I demanded an immediate stop to all unauthorized methanol sales.
I warned criminal and civil actions including U.S. civil RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) cases.
Attachments included all prior legal notices, company bylaws, and relevant documents.
July 16, 2017:
Tricon U.S. responded (Bryan Elwood) that, “Tricon will no longer be doing business with your company,” but did not admit wrongdoing or address the illegal sales, black-market activity, or criminal takeover.
Continued Consequences
To this day, Bio Petro and I face lawsuits, tax claims, and ongoing financial devastation.
The original crimes, involving Tricon, black-market actors, and organized crime, remain unpunished.
This story demonstrates what happens when corporate greed, organized crime, and institutional corruption go unchecked.
Supporting Documentation
All major claims are supported by documentary evidence:
Full timeline of emails between myself, Tricon staff (Cleber Fernandes, Marina Nicolia, Sr. Fratta, Antonio Santos), and my attorney, Rodrigo Palaia.
Copies of official “Notificação Jurídica” (legal notice), Brazilian court decisions, and corporate bylaws.
Letters and emails to Tricon Energy U.S. headquarters.
Court cases: #1007281-20.2016.8.26.0037 and #1013714-40.2016.8.26.0037.
Notifications sent via SEDEX, email, and in person.
Written requests for invoices and all documentation, all ignored by Tricon Brazil.
Reports to Agência Nacional de Petróleo (ANP), Brazilian police, and local courts.
Redacted copies of these documents are available to donors, journalists, and authorities.
How Funds Will Be Used
* Legal actions in the United States and Brazil (civil, criminal, and RICO filings)
* Private investigations, evidence gathering, and forensic accounting
* Advocacy, public awareness, and direct media engagement
* Full transparency: all key filings and updates will be posted for donors and the public
Why Your Support Matters
This is about far more than my loss. If this kind of criminal scheme can destroy a fully legal company, with total loss of investment, while the courts and police do nothing, then no foreign investor or honest business is safe in Brazil.
Your support is a stand against corruption, organized crime, and the destruction of honest entrepreneurship.
Contact
For more information, documentation, or press requests, contact me.
Thank you for reading. If you cannot donate, please share my campaign and help expose what happened.
John Kaweske
President & Director (Former)
Bio Clean Energy, S.A.
All statements above are factual, based on documentation, court records, and direct testimony. Redacted supporting evidence is available on request.
Organizer
John Kaweske
Organizer
Sioux Falls, SD