Turilândia Mayor, Officials Arrested in $56M Fraud

Quick Summary

The mayor of Paulo Curió surrendered to authorities in São Luís, ending a two-day manhunt. His arrest marked the culmination of Operation Tântalo II, a police action targeting the embezzlement of public funds in Turilândia. The operation resulted in the detention of the entire local legislative body alongside the executive leadership.

Authorities are investigating the diversion of approximately R$ 56.3 million. The operation was launched on Monday, December 22, and involved 21 arrest warrants and 51 search and seizure orders across multiple municipalities. The alleged crimes include criminal organization formation, bid fraud, active and passive corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering.

Operation Tântalo II Executed

Operation Tântalo II was launched on Monday, December 22, targeting a criminal organization allegedly led by the mayor of Turilândia. The investigation focuses on the diversion of R$ 56.3 million from municipal funds. The operation is a continuation of a previous investigation conducted by the Special Group for Combating Organized Crime (GAECO) in February of this year.

On Wednesday morning, Mayor Paulo Curió surrendered to police in São Luís. With his arrest, all outstanding warrants were executed. These included the arrests of the vice-mayor and all 11 city councilors of Turilândia. The operation extended beyond the city limits, with warrants executed in São Luís, Paço do Lumiar, Santa Helena, Pinheiro, Barreirinhas, Governador Nunes Freire, Vitória do Mearim, Pedro do Rosário, São José de Ribamar, and Presidente Sarney.

According to the investigative procedure established by GAECO, there are indications of the following crimes:

• Formation of a criminal organization
• Bid fraud
• Active and passive corruption
• Embezzlement (peculato)
• Money laundering

The alleged irregularities occurred during the administration of Mayor Curió, specifically between the years 2021 and 2025.

Detention Conditions

Following his arrest, Mayor Paulo Curió and Vice-Mayor Tânia Mendes were transferred to the Unidade Prisional de Ressocialização de Pedrinhas in São Luís to serve preventive detention. The judicial system determined a stricter detention regime for the executive leadership compared to the legislative branch.

The 11 city councilors had their preventive detention converted to house arrest or the use of electronic ankle monitors. According to the prosecution, this decision was made to ensure the continuity of municipal legislative activities. The president of the City Council is required to assume the mayoral duties following the arrest of the mayor.

Promoter Fernando Berniz of GAECO stated regarding the councilors: "A Justiça preferiu transformar as prisões dos vereadores em domiciliar ou tornozeleira para não interromper as atividades em Turilândia, já que agora o presidente da Câmara terá que assumir o cargo de prefeito" (The Justice system preferred to transform the councilors' arrests into house arrest or ankle monitors so as not to interrupt activities in Turilândia, since now the president of the Chamber will have to assume the mayor's office).

The Embezzlement Scheme

Investigators allege that the criminal organization was led by Mayor Paulo Curió, with the support of Vice-Mayor Tânia Mendes and former Vice-Mayor Janaína Lima. The scheme was reportedly established through fraudulent contracts with shell companies. These companies were used as fronts to divert money from the Turilândia public coffers.

Promoter Fernando Berniz stated that "Na Câmara, todos os vereadores faziam parte do esquema, recebendo dinheiro desviado diretamente ou através de parentes" (In the Chamber, all councilors were part of the scheme, receiving diverted money directly or through relatives). The mayor and various councilors allegedly benefited by receiving funds in personal accounts or through family members.

The investigation identified several companies allegedly used as fronts in the scheme:

• Posto Turi SP Freitas Júnior Ltda
• Luminer Serviços Ltda
• MR Costa Ltda
• AB Ferreira Ltda
• Climatech Refrigeração e Serviços Ltda
• JEC Empreendimentos
• Potencial Empreendimentos e Cia Ltda
• WJ Barros Consultoria Contábil
• Agromais Pecuária e Piscicultura Ltda

Key Targets and Roles

A central figure in the operation is Marlon Zerrão, husband of former Vice-Mayor Janaína Lima and uncle of current Vice-Mayor Tânia Mendes. His business, Posto Turi, allegedly received R$ 17.2 million from Turilândia's public funds. An agreement was reportedly made between Zerrão, Lima, and Mayor Curió to retain 10% of the contract values to pay for Janaína Lima's medical school tuition, while the remaining 90% was delivered to the mayor or his designees.

Posto Turi was also allegedly used to issue false invoices to defraud public contract payments. Current Vice-Mayor Tânia Mendes and her husband, Ilan Alfredo Mendes, are investigated for receiving values from companies contracted by the municipality, including proceeds from the sale of false invoices. The investigation suggests Tânia Mendes joined the electoral ticket to maintain the influence of her uncle, Marlon Zerrão, who had strong ties to Mayor Curió.