The third phase of Operation Fake Agent, launched by the Federal Police on Thursday (11/13), revealed that the FGTS diversion scheme has affected prominent players, former players and coaches both domestically and internationally.
Among those investigated in the previous phase was Joana Prado, a lawyer who holds important positions in football clubs and organizations and is a prominent figure in the sporting world.
Please also read
-
Mirel Pinheiro
INSS: PF scraps schemes that hurt retirees in 17 states and DF
-
Mirel Pinheiro
Caixa employee targeted by PF for cheating on player FGTS
According to the PF, the criminal group, with the cooperation of Caixa Economica federal employees, used false documents and embezzled approximately R$7 million through fraudulent withdrawal requests from the guarantee fund. The lawyer who would have coordinated the operation had his OAB license suspended.
Who is the lawyer being investigated?
Joana Prado de Oliveira made her career in Rio de Janeiro’s soccer world. She worked at Botafogo for 12 years, joining in 2003 and taking up the position of the club’s legal director in 2007.
Previously, he was an auditor at the Rio Court of Justice for Sport and is currently a member of the OAB-RJ Sports Law Committee.
His influence in the sports world allowed him access to athletes and coaches who today seem like victims of deviance.
Injured athletes and former athletes
According to information gathered by PF, at least five prominent personalities had illegally withdrawn amounts from accounts linked to FGTS.
- Former Botafogo defender Juninho
- Paolo Guerrero, former Corinthians, Flamengo, Internacional
- Christian Cueva, former Sao Paulo and Santos
- João Rojas, Ecuadorian, played for São Paulo from 2018 to 2021
- Ramirez, former Cruzeiro, Chelsea and Brazil international
In addition to them, other Brazilian and foreign players, whose names have not been disclosed, are among the victims identified in the new phase of the investigation.
Coach Oswaldo de Oliveira also noticed irregular departures from FGTS and contacted the authorities.
How the plan works
The operation began after a private bank discovered accounts opened in the Peruvian player’s name using false documents. Through this fraudulent account, 2.2 million reais was diverted from Paolo Guerrero alone.
From this incident, investigators arrived at the remaining structures: irregularly opened accounts, fraudulent withdrawal requests and facilitation of releases at certain Caixa branches.
The warrants issued in this case targeted Caixa employees in Tijuca, Ramos and Deodoro, as well as a branch in central Rio.
crime investigated
Those involved could face charges of falsifying official documents, embezzlement, and criminal association.
The investigation will be carried out by the confidential investigation unit of the Police Office for the Suppression of Financial Crimes (UIS/Derefaz), with support from Caixa’s intelligence department.
About The Author
