Nephew of Brazilian Governor arrested in Federal Police operation
18 de March de 2025
By Ana Pastana* – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – Lawyer Thiago Marcos Barbosa de Carvalho, nephew of the governor of the State of Tocantins, Wanderlei Barbosa (Republicanos), was arrested on the morning of Tuesday, the 18th, during a new phase of “Operation Sisamnes,” launched by the Federal Police (PF). The operation aims to investigate crimes of obstruction of justice, breach of official secrecy, and active and passive corruption. In addition to him, State Prosecutor Ricardo Vicente da Silva is also one of the targets.
According to investigations, a clandestine network for monitoring, trading, and passing on confidential information regarding the progress of sensitive investigations overseen by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) was identified. The operation, authorized by Supreme Federal Court (STF) Minister Cristiano Zanin, is investigating the involvement of lawyers, lobbyists, businesspeople, advisors, chiefs of staff, and magistrates in the organization.
One preventive arrest warrant and four search and seizure warrants were executed, along with measures for removal from public office, prohibition of contact and leaving the country, and the confiscation of passports.
In a statement, the State Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPTO) said it had not yet accessed the investigation records and would not comment:“The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Tocantins informs that, so far, it has not had access to the decision by Supreme Federal Court Minister Cristiano Zanin, which authorized the Federal Police operation carried out on the morning of Tuesday, the 18th, against a state prosecutor and an advisor. Therefore, the institution will not comment at this time.”
First Phase
The investigations began in 2023 after the police discovered text messages on the phone of a lawyer murdered in Mato Grosso. The exchange of messages involved the purchase of court rulings and was forwarded to the National Justice Council (CNJ), which then alerted the Federal Police.
The first phase of the operation took place on October 26, 2024, when PF agents investigated possible requests for financial compensation in exchange for favorable judicial decisions. They also investigated deals related to leaking confidential information, including details of police operations.
At the time, one preventive arrest warrant and 23 search and seizure warrants were executed in the states of Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, and the Federal District. Additionally, precautionary measures were imposed, such as electronic monitoring, removal of public officials and judiciary members from their positions, asset freezes, and the seizure of suspects’ properties and financial assets.
The second phase occurred on December 20 of last year. According to the investigations, multiple suspicious real estate transactions were detected, allegedly carried out by the suspects to disguise the illicit origin of the money used to finance the purchase of residential properties and vehicles.
By order of the STF, the second phase of the investigation executed search and seizure warrants, removal of judiciary officials from their positions, prohibition of contact and leaving the country, passport confiscation, and the freezing of R$ 1.8 million from the suspects. Additionally, properties acquired by a magistrate were seized.