'King' of bribes in São Paulo Finance Secretariat planned to flee country via prison acquaintance's plane, MP says

Artur Gomes da Silva Neto, a tax auditor identified as 'King,' is accused of orchestrating a massive bribery scheme totaling R$1 billion (approximately $180 million USD) within the São Paulo State Finance Secretariat. According to the Public Ministry, Neto allegedly planned to escape the country using an unmarked aircraft and a clandestine hangar provided by an entrepreneur he met during a previous prison stay. Prosecutors describe this operation as the largest fiscal corruption structure ever uncovered in the state.

Neto allegedly met Polion Gomes Reinaux Gomes, who was convicted for embezzling R$2.5 million intended for a 12-year-old cancer patient, during their simultaneous seven-month incarceration. Gomes was granted conditional release on May 7. Neto himself was released on June 2 but was recaptured just a week later, on June 9, in Ribeirão Pires, Greater São Paulo.

The investigation revealed that Gomes made an eight-minute call to Neto and sent him photos and videos of civil aviation facilities, including unmarked aircraft in hangars. Neto was initially arrested in August 2025 under Operation Ícaro, which exposed his alleged scheme of facilitating tax credit anticipations, known as 'ICMS fast-tracking,' for businesses paying large-scale bribes. Prosecutors highlighted the risk of international flight, citing the case of Alberto Toshio Murakami, another former tax auditor known as 'Americano,' who has been a fugitive in the United States since August 2025 and is on Interpol's Red Notice list.

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the largest fiscal corruption structure ever identified in the State