In Brazil, a similar situation recently unfolded. For 23 years, no one questioned the identity of judge Edward Albert Lancelot Dodd Canterbury Caterham Wickfield.
A British aristocrat. For more than two decades, the judicial system in the state of São Paulo was home to a judge who didn’t actually exist. José Eduardo Franco dos Reis, a Brazilian citizen, successfully passed the public exams and graduated in Law from the University of São Paulo. For many years, he served as a magistrate under a completely fabricated identity: Edward Albert Lancelot Dodd Canterbury Caterham Wickfield, a name as extravagant as it is English.
It all began in the 1980s when Dos Reis, eager to reinvent himself, forged his birth certificate. He claimed to be a British aristocrat born in Brazil but raised in the United Kingdom. In 1995, after becoming an official judge, he further solidified his persona with interviews where he recounted a fictitious childhood among English castles and noble families.
An institutionalized lie. What’s truly fascinating about this story is how long it went unnoticed by the authorities. The truth came to light in 2024 when Dos Reis, still using the fake name, went to a government office to renew his identity card.
Although all his legal documents were in the name of his British alter ego, the birth registration number matched that of a Brazilian citizen. Fingerprint checks confirmed the suspicion: Judge Edward Albert Lancelot Dodd Canterbury Caterham Wickfield never existed. He was a character carefully constructed and maintained for more than 20 years by a man who never left the country. Dos Reis managed to deceive colleagues, institutions, and control agencies without anyone questioning his story.
An unbelievable explanation. After the fraud was discovered, Dos Reis was summoned to testify. For the first time in decades, he appeared under his real name. However, his defense was even more delusional. He claimed that Wickfield was his twin brother, adopted in infancy by a British aristocratic couple.
He failed to provide any evidence or explain the origins of the names. Local media outlets noted the clear literary inspiration behind his claim. They pointed out the similarities to Sir Lancelot, one of the Knights of the Round Table, and Mr. Wickfield from Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. The prosecution formally charged him with ideological falsehood and the use of false documents. Notably, he still hasn’t been located and formally notified of the charges.
Judicial consequences. Throughout his career, Dos Reis amassed considerable prestige, power, and a pension of more than $28,000 per month. Remarkably, he continued to receive this pension even after retiring in 2018. However, following the revelation of the fraud, the São Paulo Court ordered the immediate suspension of his pension payments.
The case of Dos Reis has left the Brazilian population stunned. Many feel the institutions have failed them by allowing a man to live under a completely fabricated and absurd identity within one of the most scrutinized powers of the country.
Bottom line. The story of Dos Reis isn’t an anecdote of deception. It serves as a living metaphor for how appearance, language, and authority can create parallel realities within systems that often don’t require rigorous evidence. His case not only ridicules the Brazilian judicial system. It also exposes its bureaucratic weaknesses when faced with charismatic impersonation and a seemingly well-crafted narrative.
The judge drew inspiration from British literature to construct his identity and carry out his duties for decades without being detected. This highlights both a structural flaw and an institutional tragicomedy that could easily belong in a Charles Dickens novel. It could perhaps inspire Netflix’s next great hit.
Image | Rafaela Biazi
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