Juiz de Fora court convicts three in taxi bidding fraud scheme

Three individuals have been convicted by the judiciary in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, for their involvement in a scheme to defraud taxi service bidding processes. The convictions follow a request by the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais as part of ‘Operation Arbítrio’.

The ringleader was sentenced to 12 years and 9 months in a closed regime for criminal association, bidding fraud, and money laundering. An operational manager received a sentence of 4 years and 4 months in a semi-open regime, while a taxi permit holder received 3 years, which was substituted by community service and financial penalties.

Investigations revealed an organized structure designed to illegally control taxi permits obtained through municipal biddings in 2009 and 2014. The leader reportedly financed vehicle purchases and bidding expenses in exchange for effective control over the activities, while permit holders acted as formal owners to bypass regulations prohibiting the concentration of permits within a single economic group.