Vorcaro’s defense asks the STF for details of the PF’s reasons to support the arrest

The defense of banker Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, appealed to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and asked the Court to order the Federal Police (PF) to detail the reasons cited in the arrest request.

In a note, the defense informed that it requested on which dates Vorcaro’s messages were sent, which appear in Minister André Mendonça’s decision. Furthermore, they ask for “proof” of the existence of a group called “The Gang” and whether Vorcaro was a member.

The lawyers also ask for the dates of the invasions of public body systems that were mentioned in the arrest request; documents and dates that would prove payments cited by the PF; and information about the alleged attempt to hide R$2.2 billion in an account attributed to Vorcaro’s father.

“Daniel Vorcaro’s defense informs that the execution of the preventive arrest warrant occurred without the defense having prior access to the elements that supported the measure”, adds the defense.

Understand the case

The decision by Minister André Mendonça, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which authorized the launch of the third phase of Operation Compliance Zero this Wednesday reveals that those investigated were part of a group called “A Turma” to carry out surveillance activities, information collection and intimidation of people considered adversaries of the group linked to Banco Master.

According to the Federal Police investigation, the group was coordinated by Luiz Phillipi Machado de Moraes Mourão, identified in communications as “Felipe Mourão” and nicknamed “Sicário”, responsible for organizing a structure dedicated to monitoring people and obtaining sensitive information.

The investigation shows that the group carried out surveillance and data collection activities on individuals considered of interest to the scheme. According to Mendonça’s decision, Mourão coordinated “an informal group called ‘A Turma’, a structure used to carry out surveillance activities, information collection and monitoring of individuals considered adversaries of the group”.

In the decision, Mendonça states that the person being investigated played a central role in coordinating the group. According to the text, Mourão “maintained a direct service provision relationship with Daniel Bueno Vorcaro, acting as responsible for carrying out activities aimed at obtaining confidential information, monitoring people and neutralizing situations considered sensitive to the interests of the group under investigation”.

Among the targets would be people who were involved in investigations or who criticized the activities of the financial conglomerate. According to the minister, the measures were aimed at “identifying, locating and monitoring people who were involved in investigations or critical of the activities of the economic group linked to Banco Master”.

The decision also describes that members of the structure carried out consultations in restricted systems and sought personal and institutional data from people considered relevant to the group. This information, according to the document, was later shared with the members responsible for making strategic decisions.

Intimidation

Furthermore, the investigation indicates that the group acted to pressure or intimidate individuals who took a critical stance towards the bank or its directors. According to the minister, the activities included “the mobilization of teams responsible for in-person monitoring and information collection activities, as well as actions aimed at pressuring or intimidating individuals”.

The information is contained in the decision of Minister André Mendonça, of the STF, which authorized this Wednesday (4th) the third phase of Operation Compliance Zero and once again led to the arrest of former banker Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, as well as others under investigation. The Federal Police investigation investigates an alleged billion-dollar fraud scheme in the financial system, with suspected crimes such as fraudulent management of a financial institution, corruption, money laundering and criminal organization.

According to investigators, the scheme would have used financial market structures to capture resources and move high-risk or low-liquidity assets, in addition to operations that would have served to hide losses and divert resources. The decision also cites suspicions of interlocution with public servants and attempts to interfere in investigations.

Operation

The operation, called Compliance Zero, has already had three phases. The first, launched in November 2025, investigated the suspected sale of unbacked credit portfolios to other financial institutions. The second, in January this year, expanded the focus to the use of investment funds linked to the Reag management company to circulate resources and acquire assets considered problematic. The third phase, now authorized by the STF, includes new arrests and precautionary measures against those investigated linked to the case.