Banker and brother-in-law Fabiano Zettel were transferred to Penitentiary 2 in the interior city of São Paulo
Banker Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, is detained in Penitentiary 2 of Potim, located in Vale do Paraíba, in the interior of São Paulo, which operates under a closed regime. The unit has capacity for 844 places and houses 472 inmates, according to the São Paulo Penitentiary Administration Secretariat updated on Wednesday (March 4, 2026). The constructed area of the penitentiary totals 7,854.69 square meters.
Vorcaro and his brother-in-law, Fabiano Zettel, went to Potim this Thursday morning (Mar 5, 2026). The 2 were arrested by the Federal Police on Wednesday (4th March), during operation Compliance Zero. They spent the night at the Guarulhos Provisional Detention Center 2 before being transferred.
Satellite image of Penitentiary 2 in Potim, in the interior of São Paulo, where Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, and his brother-in-law, Fabiano Zettel, are imprisoned
The Federal Police requested that those investigated be sent to the state prison system. Minister André Mendonça, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), responded to the request. The PF justified that the superintendent’s prison in São Paulo does not have an adequate structure to keep inmates for prolonged periods.
Potim Penitentiary 2 has received prisoners involved in high-profile cases. The São Paulo government recently began a process of redistributing famous inmates to avoid concentration in places like Tremembé. In addition to Daniel Vorcaro, other well-known names were referred to Potim, including former player Robinho, for rape, businessman Thiago Brennand, for rape, bodily harm and threat, and former doctor Roger Abdelmassih, convicted of raping dozens of patients.
Master Case
Minister André Mendonça, of the (Federal Supreme Court), authorized the 3rd phase of Operation Compliance Zero to preventively arrest the businessmen from Banco Master and Fabiano Zettel on Wednesday (Mar 4, 2026). The new phase investigates the group responsible for monitoring and intimidating Vorcaro’s opponents. Read the decisionwhich responds to a request from the PF (Federal Police) ( – 384 kB).
According to Mendonça’s order, the investigation into the case indicates that Vorcaro issued “direct orders” of acts of intimidation against people witho “business competitors, former employees and journalists” that would harm the Master’s interests. The minister also declared that records were identified that the businessman had “prior access” to information “related carrying out investigative measures”.
The messages indicate that Vorcaro’s brother-in-law, Fabiano Zettel, acted as a mediator of the services of the “intimidation nucleus”being responsible for payments.
The following were preventively arrested:
- Daniel Vorcaro, appointed as leader of the criminal organization;
- Fabiano Zettelinvestigated for making payments and guiding an intimidation center;
- Marilson Roseno da Silvaretired federal police officer investigated for participating in a group monitoring Vorcaro’s opponents;
- Luiz Phillipi Machado de Moraes Mourãoidentified as one of the members of the group “The Class”.
The search and seizure was also authorized at 15 addresses linked to those investigated in São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Mendonça ordered the removal from public positions and the seizure of assets worth up to R$22 billion.
In the decision that authorized the 3rd phase of Operation Compliance ZeroMendonça understood that there is evidence that the group hired by Vorcaro to intimidate opponents had access to confidential systems of the Federal Police, the Federal Public Ministry and international organizations such as Interpol. The minister ordered the arrest of those being investigated as he considered that there was a risk to the lives of possible victims of the crimes mentioned in the investigation.
WHAT VORCARO’S DEFENSE SAYS
Daniel Vorcaro’s defense stated that the businessman “He was always at the disposal of the authorities” e “cooperated transparently with the investigations from the beginning”. In a note, the lawyers deny “categorically the allegations attributed” to Vorcaro and say they trust that “complete clarification of the facts will demonstrate the regularity of your conduct”reiterating confidence “due legal process and the functioning of institutions”.
Here is the full note:
“Daniel Vorcaro’s defense informs that the businessman was always available to the authorities, cooperating transparently with the investigations from the beginning, and never tried to obstruct the work of the authorities or Justice.
“The defense categorically denies the allegations attributed to Vorcaro and trusts that the complete clarification of the facts will demonstrate the regularity of his conduct.
“Reiterates its confidence in due legal process and the regular functioning of institutions.”
Until the publication of this report, the defense lawyers for the other targets of the operation had not commented on the facts attributed to them by the Federal Police. THE Poder360 will update the report when it receives the comments.
