Romeu Antunes Carvalho (featured photo) was arrested by the Federal Police (PF) this Thursday (12/18), in another phase of Operation Without Remittance, which is investigating a billion-dollar scheme of illegal reductions in INSS pensions. The fraud was revealed by Metropolises.
Romeu is the son of Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as Careca of the INSS, identified as one of the main operators of the project and imprisoned since September.
Besides Romeu, the PF executed search and seizure warrants against Senator Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA) and ordered the dismissal of the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Social Security, Adroaldo Portal, who was also placed under house arrest. Portal is Weverton’s former chief of staff and held the second-highest position in the department.
Another prisoner is the lawyer Éric Douglas Martins Fidelis, son of the former director of INSS Benefits, André Fidelis, identified by the investigation as a legal and financial link in the scheme.
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Fraud at the INSS: the new phase of operation includes 16 arrest warrants
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Chamber of the deputy leader of the Lula government in the Senate, Senator Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA), one of the targets of Operation Sans Rebate
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The PF seized luxury cars from the home of Senator Weverton Rocha, in Brasilia
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Officers seized weapons, cash, luxury cars, imported watches, jewelry and other high-value goods.
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The arrest warrants issued by the PF took place at addresses in São Paulo, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, Maranhão and in the Federal District.
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Operation without discount, by the federal police
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A luxury Volvo seized from Senator Weverton Rocha in Brasilia
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The PF executed 52 search and seizure warrants and 16 preventive arrest warrants
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The PF also seized imported watches during the new phase of Operation No Return
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Opoeração Sem Desconto investigates the national system of illegal reductions in INSS pensions and pensions
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Senator Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA) admits to having made political appointments at the INSS
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The PF arrested, this Thursday (12/18), Romeu Carvalho Antunes, son of Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as “Careca do INSS”
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Romeu Carvalho Antunes, son of Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as “Careca do INSS”
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Until recently, before entering the PF radar, Romeu maintained a discreet trajectory. He worked as a systems programmer at PicPay Instituição de Pagos, a job that lasted until September 2023.
According to the researchers, the change will take place from the end of this year. Romeu began directly joining companies linked to his father, becoming a formal partner in at least four companies and appearing indirectly in three others.
Investigations indicate that Romeu was authorized to manage bank accounts used in the scheme and that he acted as a financial operator in companies suspected of money laundering resulting from frauds.
Cars, money and guns
During the execution of court decisions authorized by the Federal Court, investigators seized luxury cars, imported watches, jewelry, weapons and cash, property which, according to the investigation, had been acquired with resources illegally taken from pensioners and pensioners.
The Federal Police emphasize that the system worked thanks to unauthorized association discounts, displayed directly on the pay of INSS beneficiaries.
Victims were deducted monthly amounts as if they were members of professional associations, without ever having authorized membership.
Resources were spread across business, family and intermediary accounts and converted into high-value assets, a strategy used to make it difficult to trace the origin of the money.
The investigation identified centers responsible for data capture, inserting false information into official systems and money laundering.
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