The party of the former president of the Senate targeted congresswoman Maria Gorete Pereira, identified as being involved in fraud; she is wearing an electronic ankle bracelet
(March 17, 2026) Operation Indébito, an offshoot of , which investigates a national scheme of unauthorized associative discounts on retirement and pensions of INSS (National Social Security Institute) beneficiaries.
Among the targets is the federal deputy (MDB-CE). Gorete, as she is known, took up a seat in the Chamber in December last year. In January 2026, he left the PL and the MDB, which in Ceará is commanded by – former president of the Senate and now federal deputy.
The deputy, born in Juazeiro do Norte, will start using an electronic ankle bracelet, as determined by Minister André Mendonça, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court).
In addition to Gorete, the following were targets:
- Natjo de Lima Pinheiro – businessperson;
- Cecília Rodrigues Mota – lawyer and former president of the Aapen association (National Association of Retirees and Pensioners) and AAPB (Brazilian Association of Retirees and Pensioners).
In the petition ( – PDF – 335 kB), Mendonça says that the deputy “emerges in the body of evidence presented by the Federal Police as a relevant member of the criminal group, active in the political and operational articulation of fraudulent associations”.
She “used political influence to facilitate agreements with the INSS and maintain direct contact with administrative authorities, as well as putting pressure on public servants to speed up processes”.
The Supreme Court minister reproduces parts of the PF investigation. In one of them, the corporation says that the associations investigated “they’re just ‘oranges’”. Pinheiro, Cecília and Gorete “maintained real control through proxies, strategically positioned subordinates and, mainly, through absolute control of financial resources”.
The associations, according to the PF, “they were used to operationalize illicit discounts, move significant amounts and promote the concealment and dissimulation of the resources obtained”.
Gorete, according to the PF, “received significant amounts into his bank account, as well as making transfers linked to the scheme” of INSS fraud.
O Poder360 contacted the deputy’s office, who said they were awaiting information. The text will be updated if a statement is sent to this digital newspaper.
Who is Gorete Pereira
A 73-year-old physiotherapist, Gorete has a long political career: she was a councilor in Fortaleza (1988-1992) and state deputy (1994-2002). He has served in the Chamber of Deputies since 2004, intermittently. He passed through the PFL, PL and PR parties.
In May 2025, the deputy made a note on her Instagram profile about INSS fraud. “In light of recent rumors and speculation involving my name in an alleged corruption scheme at the National Social Security Institute (INSS), I publicly clarify that I vehemently repudiate insinuations or accusations in this regard”he wrote.
