Turilândia Mayor Accused in R$56M Corruption Scheme

The Mayor of Turilândia, Paulo Curió, and nine other individuals have been formally accused of orchestrating a massive scheme to divert R$56 million from public coffers. The charges, filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Maranhão, mark a significant escalation in the investigation known as Operation Tântalo II.

The case centers on allegations of a structured criminal organization that allegedly operated between 2021 and 2025. The investigation targets not only the mayor but also his family members and political allies, painting a picture of a deeply entrenched network of corruption.

The formal accusation was submitted to the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Maranhão Court of Justice, where a judge will now decide whether to accept the charges and proceed with a criminal trial.

The charges were signed by the Prosecutor General of Justice, Danilo José de Castro Ferreira, and detail a wide range of criminal activities. The mayor is specifically accused of promoting, organizing, and leading a criminal organization, using his public office to sustain the operation.

According to the prosecution, the scheme involved fraudulent contracts, rigged public tenders, and the receipt of undue advantages. The illicit funds were allegedly hidden using people, companies, and assets.

The mayor faces charges for:

• Leading a criminal organization
• Diversion of public revenues and values
• Fraud in public tenders
• Passive corruption
• Money laundering

The investigation reveals that the alleged criminal structure extended well beyond the mayor's office, involving a tight circle of relatives and political figures. The Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that family members acted as "straw men," helping to move, hide, and disguise the diverted funds.

Among those accused are:

• Eva Dantas, the mayor's wife, accused of managing the financial and patrimonial aspects of the scheme.
• Tânya Karla, the vice-mayor, charged with using her position to facilitate diversions.
• Janaina Soares, the former vice-mayor.
• The mayor's father, brother, sister, uncle, and two brothers-in-law.

The prosecution claims the group formed a stable, structured organization with a clear division of functions. Their objective was to obtain undue advantages through corruption and money laundering.

The Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking comprehensive penalties and reparations. The demands go beyond simple criminal sentencing, targeting the financial infrastructure of the alleged scheme.

Key requests include:

• The full reimbursement of the R$56.3 million allegedly diverted.
• The forfeiture of assets and values linked to the scheme, even those registered in third-party names.
• The loss of public offices in cases where abuse of power is proven.
• Maintenance of precautionary measures, such as asset freezes and restrictions on contact between the accused.

The prosecution also requested the establishment of a minimum value for damage repair and the definitive conversion of asset blocks already authorized by the court.

The judicial process is proceeding alongside significant changes within the prosecution team. On January 12, the court denied the release of most suspects, maintaining preventive prison and house arrest with electronic monitoring for the city councilors.

Following a favorable opinion from the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the release of the suspects, the prosecutors of the Special Group for Combating Criminal Organizations (Gaeco) requested collective exoneration. Haroldo de Brito was subsequently appointed as the new coordinator of Gaeco.

Regarding the changes, the new coordinator stated:

The new team was already working on the preparation of the complaint against the investigated.

He explained that the work initiated by the previous prosecutors was being continued by the new team. The president of the City Council, José Luís Araújo Diniz, has assumed the interim mayorship of Turilândia, despite also being under house arrest.