Rio Judge Rejects Lochte's Bid to Dismiss Case

Ryan Lochte's lawyers got a double whammy in Brazil -- a judge denied their request to have HIS criminal case dismissed ... then transferred the case to a higher court.

A rep for the Court of Justice tells TMZ ... a Rio judge kicked Ryan's false police report case up to the public Ministry of Justice, which will now begin figuring out how hefty of a fine to drop on Lochte.

A court rep tells us the Ministry will most likely hand down a fine in excess of the $11k fine Lochte's teammate, Jimmy Feigen, paid to set things right with prosecutors. The decision is expected as early as next week.