Former tax auditor appointed as leader of billion-dollar scheme is released in SP

The TJSP (São Paulo Court of Justice) ordered, last Friday (29), the release of former tax auditor Artur Gomes da Silva Neto, identified as the central figure and "brain" of the billion-dollar corruption scheme against the Public Administration and money laundering.

The release of the defendant, through the court of the 1st Court of Tax Crimes, Criminal Organization and Laundering of Goods and Valuables of São Paulo, was granted through precautionary measures, such as electronic monitoring and home confinement.

Despite recognizing the authorship and materiality of the crimes, the judge based the decision on the extended period of time, since Artur has been imprisoned since October 2025, eliminating the need for the extreme measure.

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In addition, the other defendants in the case had already undergone the replacement of preventive detention and, therefore, the magistrate was based on the egalitarian principle.

Investigation
Artur is appointed by the Public Ministry as the central articulator of a "complex and highly harmful potential" criminal organization, focused on the fraudulent approval of ICMS credits with SEFAZ-SP (São Paulo State Finance Department), in the context of "Operation Ícaro", launched in 2025.

The former tax auditor was reported for alleged violation of:

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- art. 317, § 1, of the Penal Code, 15 times, in criminal continuity, in accordance with art. 71 of the Penal Code;
- in material competition with art. 1st, caput, with art. 1st, § 4th, both of Law 9,613/98, 22 times, in criminal continuity;
- in material competition with art. 1st, caput, with art. 1st, § 4th, both of Law 9,613/98, 43 times, in criminal continuity;
- and in material competition with art. 1st, 1st, II, c/c art. 1st, § 4th, both of Law 9,613/98, 5 times, in criminal continuity.

According to the complaint, the group's main practice was through the fraudulent approval of ICMS credits with Sefaz, maintaining a scheme of qualified and systematic passive corruption.

The investigation also indicates a billion-dollar loss to the treasury (a set of assets belonging to the State). Documents attached by the prosecution show significant amounts, such as R$63,692,616.64 and R$6,607,573.92 in another case.

Artur was supposedly the owner of 277 bitcoins, valued at approximately R$100,263,216.13, a value that was never declared to the tax authorities.

Billion-dollar scheme
Responsible for a corruption scheme that generated more than R$1 billion in bribe payments, tax auditor Artur Gomes da Silva Neto maintained direct contact with the founder and owner of Ultrafarma, businessman Sidney Oliveira, and with the statutory director of the Fast Shop chain, Mário Otávio Gomes, according to the investigation by the São Paulo Public Ministry.

In addition to Artur, Sidney Oliveira and Mario Otávio Gomes, a second tax auditor was arrested in August last year.

Artur Gomes da Silva Neto is appointed as the central figure and "brain" of the corruption scheme investigated by GEDEC (Special Action Group for the Repression of Cartel Formation, Money Laundering and Recovery of Financial Assets).

He held a prominent position at the São Paulo State Finance Department, being Superintendent Director of the Inspection Department (DIFIS) and Tax Supervisor in areas such as ICMS-ST reimbursement and retail trade.

The MP had access to email exchanges between Arthur and businessman Sidney Oliveira, from Ultrafarma, and also between the tax auditor and Mário Otávio Gomes, from Fast Shop. According to prosecutors, the conversations show negotiations and exchanges of information to facilitate the corruption scheme.

Investigations indicate that the inspector received bribes to manipulate administrative processes and make it easier for companies to obtain tax credits.

CNN Brasil tries to locate the defense of the former tax auditor. The space remains open.

*Under the supervision of Carolina Figueiredo

Source: CNN