The bid fraud scheme led by two accused of being part of the criminal faction PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) had a system of delivering bribes in packages of money to councilors and public agents from city halls and city councils in the state of São Paulo.
In an excerpt from the Public Ministry’s investigation, the accused Vagner Borges Dias, known as Latrell Brito, owner of the company Grupo Safe, explains in messages how three packages should be delivered to public agents in the municipalities participating in the scheme. The fourth volume would be destined for Latrell himself. Prices range from R$2,500 to R$5,000.
Analysis of transfers made by municipal administrations shows that the accused’s company, Vagner Borges Dias ME, received R$106.7 thousand in 2014. The amount grew in the following years, until reaching R$56.9 million in 2022.
Gaeco (the Public Prosecutor’s Office group that investigates organized crime) stated in a complaint that it is associated with dozens of companies formed solely to simulate competitions in public authority competitions.
The investigations are part of the complaint that triggered Gaeco de Guarulhos’ own operation on the 16th. Councilors Flavio Batista de Souza (Podemos) from Ferraz de Vasconcelos were arrested; Luiz Carlos Alves Dias, Luizão Architect (MDB), from Santa Isabel; and Ricardo de Oliveira, Ricardo Queixão (PSD), from Cubatão, as well as public agents, businesspeople and a lawyer.
A Sheet He only managed to contact Luizão Arquiteto’s defense, who said he had appealed the politician’s preventive arrest because he was not a suspect, but was being investigated.
Everyone investigated, however, becomes officially a suspect, according to Brazilian law.
The Cubatão City Council reported that it is collaborating with the investigation teams, providing all requested documents.
The Santa Isabel Legislature stated that it is cooperating with the investigations, but has not yet been notified about the arrest. The Ferraz de Vasconcelos Chamber also said it was at the disposal of the Prosecutor’s Office. The report was unable to contact Latrell’s defense.
In an exchange of messages, Latreel wrote, in August 2022, about an argument: “The guys think we’re stupid, right, bro, the guys think we’re stupid, the other brother said: No, bro, the guys said that you said you could come with a rifle and I said: how am I going to challenge the command, if I have always been a command”.
According to the Public Ministry, the term command used refers to the PCC.
The accused also appears sporting weapons and ammunition in images attached to the investigation. There are exchanges of messages about negotiations about a rifle and also reports of when he was stopped by the Military Police and justified the presence of the pistol in the car because he worked in the security area.
In addition to Latrell, the bid fraud scheme was commanded by another accused of being part of the criminal faction. Márcio Zeca da Silva, known as Gordo, has already been convicted of drug trafficking. He was among those arrested during the Gaeco operation on the 16th. His defense was not located.
SEE HOW THE TENDER FRAUD SCHEME WORKS
- Companies were formed by the same employees and representatives who rotated among themselves
- These companies formed a kind of cartel and agreed on who would win bids.
- The one chosen as the winner offered the lowest budget in line with the other competitors
- Municipal employees received bribes to direct bids to companies involved in the scheme
- Closed contracts served to finance and launder money from organized crime
