A money laundering scheme would have moved funds through bank accounts of “nail shops” opened in Rio Grande do Norte. The origin of the money would be from criminal activities such as drug trafficking, ATM explosions, theft and tax evasion.
This is what the investigations that led the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Norte to launch, this Thursday (25), operation Grammer, point out.
In three years, the companies would have generated around R$7 million and part of the resources would be of criminal origin, according to investigators.
According to the MP, investigations revealed that the financing for the opening of at least four nail polish shops in the cities of Natal and Parnamirim had illicit origins, linked to crimes.
The activities would have been coordinated by a man with an extensive history that includes illegal possession of weapons, participation in a criminal organization, money laundering, drug trafficking and qualified theft.
The man is currently serving time in the Rio Grande do Norte prison system.
However, according to the MP, the investigators had proven that his ex-partner, owner of the nail polish shops, is a digital influencer in the beauty sector who was fully aware of the illicit origin of the resources invested in the business.
“In addition to her, other family members and a salon employee are being investigated. Restrictive measures were applied, including the mandatory use of electronic ankle bracelets for the businesswoman and her mother, withholding of passports and a ban on leaving Natal. The criminal who serving sentence received a new preventive arrest warrant”, informed the MP.
According to researchers, since opening the first nail polish shop in 2016, the couple would have expanded the business even without income to justify the investments, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They maintained a luxurious lifestyle, boasting international trips, expensive cars and private parties, which was not supported by their socioeconomic profile during the period. In 2016, the year the first nail polish shop opened, the main person investigated worked as manager administrative staff of the company, with a declared salary of around R$1,000”, informed the MP.
According to the MPRN and PCRN, this fact demonstrates the absence of a lawful occupation that would justify the accumulation of capital to finance the then partner’s business.
In addition to the ex-wife, her mother and brothers of the man identified as head of the scheme, the participation of third parties acting as intermediaries or “scammers” was also identified.
For the MPRN and the Civil Police, the evidence collected points to the suspects’ participation in the flow of resources arising from crimes committed by the main person being investigated, “constituting a true ‘criminal working capital’”.
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Tags: investigation points money laundering scheme nail polish shop accounts large northern river
