Source: Gazeta de Ribeirão - SP, 12/07/2009

The 1st Federal Court of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, condemned 14 people for participating in the scheme, which became known as the Fuel Mafia. According to the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), which denounced the gang in March 2004, its members evaded the Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS) and adulterated fuels, with the direct participation of public officials. Those involved said they would take the fuel to be sold in the state of Espírito Santo, where the tax they would pay was less. But, in fact, they landed the product in the city of Campos, in the north of the state. To work, the scheme had a real network of corruption, involving employees of the Federal Highway Police (PRF), the Federal Revenue Service and the National Petroleum Agency (ANP). The convicts responded by conspiracy, ideological falsehood, active and passive corruption, influence peddling and administrative advocacy.

According to the MPF, first an ANP inspector warned when an inspection would take place, then the PRF agents guaranteed free transit of the fuel trucks with no rating. Finally, a tax official stamped the irregular notes. Among those involved, the majority were sentenced to prison terms transformed into restrictive rights. No one was sentenced to a sentence in a fully closed regime. (ABr)