Handwritten letters seized by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the man’s house former tax auditor Artur Gomes da Silva Neto reveal attempts to align versions between those investigated of the billion-dollar corruption and money laundering scheme investigated by Operation Ícaro.
A CNN Brazil had access to the documents found during the execution of the arrest and search and seizure warrants carried out on Wednesday (10), in São Paulo.
In one of the letters, Artur asks one of those investigated to sign a power of attorney for the lawyer responsible for the group’s defense.
“Trust me, you can sign the power of attorney for (Arthur’s lawyer) to sign, please. This is very important for us to win everything. You know me too well to know that it’s me speaking”, says the manuscript.
Another letter, entitled “obligations to be done”, contains notes related to payments and financial transactions. Among the items listed are phrases such as “making a work connection”, “receiving fees from Fast Shop” and “negotiating debts”.
The investigators also found documents with numerical calculations and notes linked to the payment of allowances to those being investigated and their family members.
In another section, directed to a person identified as Rafael, not to collaborate with the Public Ministry.
“Rafael, don’t make a deal with the MP, don’t make a complaint, don’t trust the MP. Don’t worry, we’ll resolve everything”, he wrote. At the end of the message, he signs himself as “The King”.
Loss exceeds R$8.5 billion
Documents obtained by CNN Brazil also detail the financial impacts already identified by the investigations, which add up to R$8.53 billion in losses.
According to surveys, the São Paulo State Finance and Planning Secretariat has already accounted for R$5.75 billion in damages related to the scheme. Of this total, R$1.93 billion is linked to reimbursement credits and R$3.82 billion to other investigated credits.
Among the companies mentioned in the investigations are Fast Shop, with around R$2 billion involved, and Ultrafarma, with approximately R$1 billion.
The investigations also point to an estimated loss of R$1.74 billion to the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service.
Furthermore, the General Comptroller of the State of São Paulo imposed a fine of R$1.04 billion on Fast Shop based on the Anti-Corruption Law, identified in the document as the largest ever applied in Brazil within the legislation.
New warrants and investigations
Artur had been released on June 2nd, when the release permit was fulfilled. However, even before the release, Gedec (Special Action Group to Combat Economic Offenses) of the Public Ministry had already filed two new requests for preventive detention, granted by the Court on June 3
Still according to the investigation of the CNN BrazilArtur is a defendant in seven criminal actions and must answer for three other complaints that must be presented by the Public Ministry. He is being investigated for more than 130 crimes of money laundering and corruption.
The report found that the arrest took place at the former auditor’s home, on Wednesday morning (10). He was at the residence with a male prostitute, with whom he had a relationship.
The prostitute also had roles in the criminal scheme. According to investigations, Artur used it to launder money, presenting cars and allowances. Without a cell phone, the former auditor used the prostitute’s cell phone to communicate with other people being investigated.
Arthur is appointed by the Public Ministry as the central articulator of a “complex and highly harmful potential” criminal organization, aimed at the fraudulent approval of ICMS credits with SEFAZ-SP (São Paulo State Finance Department), in the context of “Operation Icarus”launched in 2025.
A CNN Brazil contacted Artur Gomes da Silva Neto’s defense and is awaiting a response.
