Jimmy Feigen’s Brazilian Settlement Going to Judo-Based Institute

Jimmy Feigen’s 35,000 Brazilian reals (approximately $10,8000 USD) will go to the Rio-based Instituto Reação (Reaction Institute), Brazilian news outlet Globo.com is reporting.

Under Brazilian law, the accused can make charitable donations in exchange for officials dropping charges for minor offenses, and this was the outlet used in the case of American swimmer Jimmy Feigen, who made the payment and according to his lawyer will depart from the country on Friday after having his passport revoked earlier in the week.

The institute is a judo-based academy that takes children from Rio’s favelas, poor communities, and trains them in the sport and martial art of judo. Among their stated missions are using judo to “promote education and human development,” offering educational workshops for children and adolescents aged 4-17, and a main objective to “give the necessary support for the development of high performance athletes.”

The program, founded by Olympic medalist Flavio Canton in 2003, has about 1,200 members. Judo is one of Brazil’s more successful Olympic sports – they picked up 3 medals, including 1 gold, in the events at this year’s Olympic Games.

Feigen was one of two swimmers, along with Ryan Lochte, who were indicted this week in Brazil on charges of falsifying a police report with relation to an incident that happened at a Rio gas station early on Sunday morning. There has been no word yet on whether Lochte will be offered a similar arrangement for his side of the indictment, as he returned to the United States before Brazilian authorities could prevent him from leaving the country. The other two swimmers, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, returned to the United States on Friday morning and were held as witnesses to the event and not indicted.

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Frank
8 years ago

You know, Rio/Brazil should have just let this die quietly. Now Brazil’s richly deserved reputation as being crime-ridden and dangerous (and that’s just the Police) is splashed all over the world.

Not that I needed it but they have given me one more reason to NOT visit.

Ryan Lochte may be a douchebag but he’s OUR douchebag and I’m still supporting him. The other guys, not so much especially the dick who threw RL under the bus. One thing you don’t do is turn on your buddy.

Ronan
Reply to  Frank
8 years ago

Ryan got out of Dodge before the s..t hit the fan. He left his buddies behind to take the heat. THATS why he’s a douchebag.

Brute Bradford
8 years ago

Ransom. Just like the US paid Iran.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

Do some selfless work dude , u need that in your education . U got that u needed most : humility and vulnerability on the surface .

Sven
8 years ago

I like that law. Instead of a fine paid to the government, the money goes toward good causes. Makes me think of the small town speed traps used just to bring in revenue for the local govt. I’m sure the donations are much more than the actual fines, but if one had the money, it’d be nice to be able to circumvent those blatant cash grabs.

Billabong
Reply to  Sven
8 years ago

The alternative is a prison sentence of up to 3 years. Jimmy got off very lightly. Ryan wont be that lucky, and that is before the USOC or US swimming sanction.

Ronan
Reply to  Sven
8 years ago

If Ryan had not said he was robbed by POLICE, This would have ended differenty. Brasilians do not like to feel embarrassed. The police were embarrassed and turned that anger against the swimmers.

Peter B
8 years ago

Lochte statement is on instagram.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Peter B
8 years ago

He’s still owning up to his lies.

My God, how stupid can this one person be?

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Typo. Not owning up his lies

Joel Lin
8 years ago

In Tijuana it goes to the the charity of the gas owner’s cousin.

Thismakesmelaugh
8 years ago

10,8000 USD?

Cheatinvlad
Reply to  Thismakesmelaugh
8 years ago

For a $30 door and a $20 sign. They really took advantage of Jimmy

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Cheatinvlad
8 years ago

Your inability to read and comprehend simple facts really rivals that of Lochte.

Cheatinvlad
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Clarify then. Give me the damage list. You clearly don’t work as much as you’ve been spouting off in here so you’ve got the time to do it.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Cheatinvlad
8 years ago

Did you not read?

The fine is NOT for damages.

It’s for reporting false crimes and providing false statement to the police. This is the Brazilian law.

Can you really read or your head is as damaged as Lochte’s?

Frank
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

So what was the $50 for? They paid that to the cops so they could leave.

Pvdh
Reply to  Cheatinvlad
8 years ago

He paid for breaking the law. You go to a foreign country and start crap like that, don’t expect to get off easy.

Mardo4
Reply to  Pvdh
8 years ago

It seems steep, but I am certain Feigen’s is glad to have this all in his rear view window. His only mistake was following Lochte’s lead on this one, IMO.

Just Another Opinion
Reply to  Cheatinvlad
8 years ago

Breaking a door – $30
Breaking a sign – $20
Accusing the police of committing armed robbery – $10,800
Becoming famous for all the wrong reasons – priceless

Frank
Reply to  Cheatinvlad
8 years ago

They never said what the actual damage money was for. The $50 went into the cop’s hands. Here in the US, that’s extortion but this is Brazil.

swimdoc
8 years ago

Hope some journalist follows that money trail.

Rafael
Reply to  swimdoc
8 years ago

Swimdoc, the money must be paid directly to the institute, without third parties involved, and while you may try to tarnish the name of the institutte itself it casting doubts over it is a legitime institute and the Judo Gold Medalist Rafaela Silva (-57kg) started training there,,

swimdoc
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

Good. Than it should be a very easy money trail to follow.

James Bogen
Reply to  swimdoc
8 years ago

Ronda Rousey also donated $30,000 to that institute last year after she fought Bethe Correia in Brazil.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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