Federal Police agents carried out this Monday (14) search and seizure warrants from Operation Postos de Midas to investigate the commission of criminal organization crimes, bid fraud, active and passive corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, among others. The main target of the action is Rio de Janeiro state deputy Thiago Rangel (PMN).
The actions were mainly concentrated in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, the parliamentarian’s electoral stronghold. According to the PF, R$160,000 in cash, an armored luxury vehicle, valued at R$350,000, were seized, as well as cell phones, computers, storage media and various documents. The action had the participation of the Federal Revenue Service and the State Public Ministry (MPRJ),
More than 60 federal police officers, Federal Revenue officers and members of the Public Ministry participated in the operation, with the purpose of executing 14 search and seizure warrants at residential and commercial addresses and in four public buildings in Campos dos Goytacazes, and also in the region dos Lagos, in the metropolitan region and in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. The investigations took place at the Acquisitions Directorate of the Campos dos Goytacazes City Council, at Campos City Hall, at the Municipal Housing Company (EMHAB) and at the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj). The warrants were issued by the Special Body of the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
According to investigations, the crimes occurred in 2021 and involve a money laundering scheme operated through gas stations. The group rigged bidding procedures to divert public resources
The police investigation initiated by the Regional Judiciary Police Station and the Federal Police Station in Campos dos Goytacazes was initiated after sharing evidence of the arrest in the act of one of the members of the investigated criminal organization arrested and charged in the act on September 30 2022, for the practice of electoral corruption.
The investigations revealed a criminal scheme of direct hiring, “through fraudulent bidding exemptions, from companies linked to the investigated state deputy Thiago Rangel or lent to him, resulting in overpricing and the diversion of public resources, later laundered through an extensive gas station network”.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) 10/14/2024 – PF investigates deputy suspected of involvement with a criminal organization, bid fraud, active and passive corruption, embezzlement and money laundering – Federal Police/disclosure
Defense
Representative Thiago Rangel’s defense denied any involvement of the parliamentarian with the scheme. “Deputy Thiago Rangel denies any involvement with irregularities currently under investigation. As appropriate, he expresses complete confidence that the Judiciary will clarify the truth in relation to the facts.”
In a statement, the Legislative Assembly of Rio reported that “it is following the case closely and will await the Court’s decision on the investigations. All applicable measures will be taken based on the House’s Internal Regulations.”
Heritage
The name of the Operation, Postos de Midas, is an analogy to King Midas who, according to mythology, acquired the power to turn everything he touched into gold. The name refers to the exponential growth of Thiago Rangel’s assets who, when he ran for the position of councilor for the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, declared assets of R$ 224 thousand, consisting of two vehicles, participation worth R$ 60 thousand in a gas station and a jet ski.
In 2022, when he ran for state deputy, he declared assets of R$1.9 million. It currently has a vast network of 18 gas stations, in addition to 12 companies identified in the investigation.
