R$ 6.3 billion in fraud against retirees. Two plea deals mentioning the President's son. A monthly "allowance" of R$ 300,000. A medicinal cannabis company in Portugal. A congressional session with physical confrontations between lawmakers. And a secrecy breach authorized by the Supreme Court before the CPMI even voted. This is the biggest scandal of Lula's third term — and it has a name: Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha. This article reconstructs, based on Federal Police documents, CPMI testimony, and investigative reporting from outlets including Estadão, Folha, UOL, CNN Brasil, and Revista Oeste, the web of connections linking the president's son to the largest social security fraud scheme in Brazilian history.
The Scheme: How the INSS Fraud Worked
Before understanding Lulinha's role, one must grasp the scale of the scheme the Federal Police named "Operation Sem Desconto" (Operation No Discount). It is one of the largest social security frauds in Brazilian history — a scheme that drained billions of reais from retirees and pensioners, many of them vulnerable elderly people living on minimum income.
The Fraud Mechanics
The scheme worked as follows: associations and unions registered with the INSS (National Social Security Institute) were authorized to deduct membership fees directly from beneficiaries' pension payments. In theory, this deduction could only be made with the express authorization of the beneficiary. In practice, something entirely different was happening.
| Step | How It Worked | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Fraudulent registration | Retirees were enrolled in associations without consent | Millions of victims, many illiterate or with health issues |
| Forged authorizations | Signatures were falsified or copied from other documents | Automatic deductions without the beneficiary's knowledge |
| Entity accreditation | INSS directors accredited new entities in exchange for bribes | 14 entities accredited during André Fidelis's tenure |
| Unauthorized deductions | Amounts were deducted monthly from pensions | R$ 1.6 billion in deductions from entities accredited by Fidelis alone |
| Laundering and distribution | Resources were laundered through shell companies and distributed | Bribes to directors, politicians, and intermediaries |
The Shocking Numbers
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total damages | R$ 6.3 billion |
| Period of operation | 2019 to 2024 |
| Affected beneficiaries | Millions of retirees and pensioners |
| Refunds already issued | R$ 2.9 billion (as of February 2026) |
| Beneficiaries reimbursed | Over 4 million |
| Deadline for refund requests | March 20, 2026 |
What makes this scheme particularly heinous is the profile of its victims: retirees and pensioners — many of them elderly, with fragile health, low education levels, and who depend on benefits of one or two minimum wages to survive. Every cent illegally deducted meant a medicine not purchased, a meal skipped, a bill left unpaid.
The Protagonists: Who Is Involved
Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes — The "Careca do INSS"
At the center of the entire scheme is Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, nicknamed "Careca do INSS" (INSS Bald Man). A businessman and lobbyist, Antunes is identified by the Federal Police as the main orchestrator of the fraud scheme. The numbers linked to him are staggering:
- R$ 53.5 million moved between 2022 and 2024 through his companies
- R$ 9.3 million transferred to INSS civil servants or associated individuals between 2023 and 2024
- Hidden owner of associative entities involved in the fraud, such as the Brazilian Confederation of Fishing and Aquaculture Workers (CBPA)
- Imprisoned since September 2025, he is now reportedly considering negotiating his own plea deal
Antunes was not merely a financial operator — he was the link between money, corrupted public servants, and, according to investigations, high-ranking political figures. His network of relationships extended from the bureaucratic ground floor of the INSS to the corridors of power in Brasília.
Virgílio Oliveira Filho — The Corrupted Prosecutor
Virgílio Oliveira Filho, former INSS prosecutor, is one of the central figures in the scheme. Imprisoned since November 13, 2025, he is accused by the Federal Police of having received a fortune incompatible with his earnings:
| Financial Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Total received from scheme-linked companies | R$ 11.9 million |
| Amount from "Careca do INSS" companies | R$ 7.5 million |
| Identified asset increase | R$ 18.3 million |
| Apartment in Curitiba | R$ 5.3 million |
| Property reserved in Santa Catarina | R$ 28 million |
His wife, Thaisa Hoffmann Jonasson, was also arrested. Millions in transfers were made to companies and accounts in her name — a classic asset shielding strategy. Virgílio is in advanced plea deal negotiations, and his accounts have already mentioned powerful names — including Lulinha.
André Fidelis — The Director Who Enabled the Fraud
André Fidelis, former INSS Benefits Director, is the other pillar of the scheme within the agency. Also imprisoned since November 13, 2025, Fidelis is suspected of having:
- Received R$ 3.4 million in bribes between 2023 and 2024
- Accredited 14 entities that carried out unauthorized deductions
- Allowed R$ 1.6 billion in fraudulent deductions during his tenure
His son, Eric Fidelis, was also arrested in the operation. André Fidelis is the second former INSS executive negotiating a plea deal, and his accounts — together with Virgílio's — form the backbone of the accusations that reached Lulinha's name.
Edson Claro Medeiros Jr. — The Key Informant
Perhaps no witness is as important as Edson Claro Medeiros Jr., a former direct employee of Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes. Claro provided more than 70 hours of testimony to the Federal Police, and his accounts are devastating. According to his testimony:
- Lulinha allegedly received payments totaling up to R$ 25 million
- There was a monthly "allowance" of approximately R$ 300,000 destined for the president's son
- Lulinha allegedly traveled with the "Careca do INSS" to Portugal
- An hidden business partnership allegedly existed between Lulinha and Antunes
Government-aligned lawmakers attempted to block Claro's summons to testify directly before the CPMI — a maneuver widely interpreted as an attempt to shield the government from the explosive content of his testimony.
Roberta Luchsinger — The Financial Connection
Roberta Luchsinger, a businesswoman and heiress, is identified by the Federal Police as a fundamental piece in the financial machinery allegedly linking Lulinha to the "Careca do INSS." The evidence against her is compelling:
- Received R$ 1.5 million from Antunes's company in installments of R$ 300,000
- Intercepted messages by the PF show Antunes mentioning the need to "make another installment of R$ 300,000"
- When asked about the recipient, Antunes allegedly responded: "the guy's son" — an explicit reference to Lulinha
- Described by the PF as "a member of the criminal organization's political nucleus"
- Her role is considered "essential for concealing assets, moving funds, and managing bank accounts and corporate structures used as instruments of money laundering"
- A close friend of Lulinha, she allegedly lobbied the Ministry of Health alongside the "Careca do INSS"
Luchsinger's defense claims she has no connection to INSS deductions and that her company operates in business prospecting and intermediation, including negotiations for a cannabidiol project with the lobbyist.
The Portuguese Connection: World Cannabis
One of the most intriguing aspects of the investigation is the international link. According to testimony and documents gathered by the Federal Police, Lulinha would be a hidden partner in a company called World Cannabis, based in Portugal, whose objective would be the commercialization of medicinal cannabis products — with the ultimate goal of selling them to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).
Lulinha's trips to Portugal with the "Careca do INSS" — reported by Edson Claro — would be directly related to this venture. If confirmed, this connection would reveal something even more serious: the use of political influence within the Ministry of Health to create government demand for products from a company in which the president's son allegedly held hidden financial interests.
The Plea Deals: What Has Been Delivered to the Federal Police
The Two Informants
In February 2026, it became public that two former INSS executives were in advanced stages of negotiating plea deals with the Federal Police. The informants are:
| Informant | Position | Status | Names Cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgílio Oliveira Filho | Former INSS Prosecutor | Imprisoned since 11/13/2025 | Lulinha, Flávia Péres, Centrão politicians, Frei Chico |
| André Fidelis | Former INSS Benefits Director | Imprisoned since 11/13/2025 | Lulinha, Centrão politicians |
The Explosive Names Revealed
Beyond Lulinha, the plea deals and investigations brought to light other surprising names:
- Flávia Péres (formerly Flávia Arruda): former minister of Institutional Relations under President Jair Bolsonaro. Her mention in the plea deals was a surprise — revealing that the INSS scheme is not exclusive to a single government, but spanned administrations of different political orientations. She denies any involvement.
- José Ferreira da Silva, "Frei Chico": President Lula's brother. His mention extended the political contamination beyond the son — reaching the president's immediate family.
- "Centrão" politicians: several lawmakers from the allied base were cited as scheme beneficiaries, though their names remain under judicial secrecy.
- Antunes family members: son Romeu Carvalho Antunes and wife Tânia Carvalho dos Santos also became targets, leading the "Careca do INSS" to consider his own plea deal.
What the Federal Police Has
| Evidence Type | Content |
|---|---|
| Formal testimony | Over 70 hours from Edson Claro, plus testimony from Virgílio and André Fidelis |
| Intercepted messages | Antunes's communications mentioning payments to "the guy's son" |
| Financial tracking | R$ 300,000 flows through Roberta Luchsinger |
| Corporate records | Hidden corporate ties in Portugal (World Cannabis) |
| Accounting documents | R$ 53.5 million in movements through Antunes's companies |
| Secrecy breaches | Bank, tax, and telematic secrecy of Lulinha authorized by the STF |
The CPMI: Political Battle in Congress
The Joint Parliamentary Committee of Investigation
The CPMI do INSS was established by Brazil's National Congress in August 2025 to investigate fraud in pension deductions. From the start, the commission became a political battlefield, with government allies attempting to limit the scope of investigations and opposition lawmakers seeking to expand inquiries — especially after Lulinha's name emerged in testimony.
D-Day: February 26, 2026
February 26, 2026 entered Brazilian political history as one of the most dramatic days of the current legislature. On the same day it became public that Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça had already authorized the breaking of Lulinha's bank, tax, and telematic secrecy at the Federal Police's request — a decision made in January but kept under seal — the CPMI held a session to vote on the same request.
The result was a crushing defeat for the government:
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| STF decision | André Mendonça had already authorized breaking Lulinha's secrecy in January 2026, at the PF's request. The information surfaced on 02/26 |
| CPMI vote | The committee approved breaking Lulinha's bank and tax secrecy |
| Blocking attempt | Government lawmakers tried to prevent the vote — and failed |
| Physical confrontations | The session was marked by heated debates and physical confrontations between lawmakers |
| Government reaction | Minister Gleisi Hoffmann called the vote a "coup" |
The Past Returns: The 2019 Indictment
The INSS case is not the first time Lulinha has faced justice. On March 20, 2019, the Federal Police had already indicted him — along with his father — for money laundering and influence peddling. That case involved:
The Touchdown Company
Lulinha owned Touchdown, a sports marketing company with a corporate capital of just R$ 1,000 that mysteriously received over R$ 10 million from major sponsors. The Federal Police identified that payments were significantly above market value, raising suspicions the contracts served as vehicles for payments to Lula.
The Odebrecht Connection
According to Odebrecht plea deal witnesses in Operation Lava Jato, the construction giant allegedly transferred resources to Lulinha's company in exchange for advantages during President Dilma Rousseff's government.
The Oi/Telemar Case
In a parallel investigation, the PF examined transfers from telecom operator Oi/Telemar to Lulinha-associated companies — specifically the Gamecorp/Gol group. The amounts totaled over R$ 132 million, with suspicions that part of the money was used to purchase the Atibaia farm — a property that became a symbol of scandals involving the former president.
Dismissal and Annulment
In December 2021, the Federal Prosecutors' Office requested the dismissal of one investigation against Lulinha, and in January 2022, Federal Court in São Paulo granted it. The decision considered the annulment of evidence obtained in Operation Lava Jato by the STF, which recognized former judge Sergio Moro's bias.
The President-Son Connection: What Links Lula to the Scandal
The Palace's Reaction
When news of Lulinha's involvement in the INSS investigations went public, President Lula declared that he had demanded explanations from his son and warned him that "if there is involvement, he will pay the price."
Lines of Investigation
| Investigation Line | Hypothesis | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Influence peddling | Lulinha used his father's name to facilitate Antunes's business at the Ministry of Health | Under investigation |
| Hidden partnership | Lulinha was Antunes's hidden partner, using Luchsinger as a front | Under investigation |
| Political allowance | The R$ 300,000 monthly was "payment" for political protection of the INSS scheme | Under investigation |
| SUS connection | The medicinal cannabis company (World Cannabis) sought SUS contracts | Under investigation |
| Presidential knowledge | Did Lula know or should he have known about his son's activities | No direct evidence to date |
The Eloquent Silence
Significantly, Lulinha moved to Spain — a decision that opposition lawmakers interpreted as an attempt to distance himself from the immediate reach of Brazilian justice. Lawmakers have already requested his summons to the CPMI and even his extradition to testify.
Flávia Péres: The Scandal That Crosses Governments
One of the most surprising aspects of the plea deals is the mention of Flávia Péres, who served as minister during President Jair Bolsonaro's government. Her inclusion demonstrates that the INSS scheme transcends party lines — and that social security corruption is a structural problem of the Brazilian state, not just of one government.
Political Impact: What Changes From Here
Possible Scenarios
| Scenario | Probability | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Lulinha formally indicted | High | Massive political damage to Lula |
| Careca do INSS plea deal | Medium-high | Expansion of scandal with new names |
| Lulinha summoned to CPMI | Medium | Institutional conflict if he's in Spain |
| PGR charges filed | Medium | Case goes to STF trial |
| Electoral impact | Certain | Scandal dominates political debate through 2026 |
| New arrests | Medium | Ramifications may reach Centrão politicians |
Complete Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019-2024 | Period of unauthorized INSS deduction scheme |
| March 2019 | Lulinha indicted by PF for money laundering (Touchdown/Odebrecht case) |
| December 2021 | MPF requests dismissal of Lulinha investigation (Lava Jato case) |
| January 2022 | Federal Court dismisses case due to annulled Lava Jato evidence |
| August 2025 | CPMI do INSS established in Congress |
| September 2025 | "Careca do INSS" testifies at CPMI, denies direct involvement |
| November 2025 | Virgílio Oliveira Filho and André Fidelis arrested (11/13/2025) |
| December 2025 | Operation Sem Desconto launched by PF and CGU |
| January 2026 | Justice André Mendonça (STF) authorizes breaking Lulinha's secrecy |
| February 2026 | Lulinha's name emerges publicly in plea deals |
| 02/25-26/2026 | Press reveals details; names of Lulinha, Flávia Péres, Frei Chico surfaced |
| 02/26/2026 | CPMI approves breaking Lulinha's secrecy in tumultuous session with physical confrontations |
What the Defenses Say
It is essential to record the positions of the involved parties' defenses, in respect of the principle of due process:
- Lulinha: Expressed "surprise" at the news and denies any involvement with INSS fraud. Plans to request an inquiry into the leaking of classified documents.
- Roberta Luchsinger: Claims no connection to INSS deductions. States her company operates in business prospecting and intermediation.
- "Careca do INSS": Denies direct participation in unauthorized deductions.
- Virgílio Oliveira Filho: His defense denies any ongoing plea deal.
- Flávia Péres: Denies any involvement in the scheme.
- President Lula: Said he demanded explanations from his son and that "if there are irregularities, he will pay the price."
Conclusion: The Brazil Nobody Wants to See
The INSS scandal involving Lulinha is, above all, a portrait of a Brazil that persists despite all promises of change. It is a Brazil where retirees earning minimum wage have their pensions drained to enrich lobbyists, businessmen, and — if the plea deals are confirmed — presidents' children.
It is a Brazil where the same corruption practices denounced in Lava Jato reappear with new names and new acronyms, but with the same essence: the use of the state for private benefit. It is a Brazil where the CPMI becomes a boxing ring, where truth must fight to survive amid procedural maneuvers and physical confrontations.
What happens to Lulinha, the "Careca do INSS," the informants, and all those involved now depends on the Federal Police, the STF, and the CPMI. But one thing is certain: the 4 million retirees who already received their refunds — and the millions who haven't — are living proof that this scheme is not political fiction. It is theft. It is crime. And it targets the most vulnerable.
The question remains: will Brazilian institutions be strong enough to investigate without bias, regardless of who is in power? The answer to this question will define not only Lulinha's fate but the fate of Brazilian democracy itself.
Editorial Note: This article is based on information published by Brazilian media outlets, Federal Police documents made public, and testimony given to the CPMI do INSS. The author reiterates that all cited individuals are innocent until proven guilty in judicial proceedings, as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. Investigations are ongoing and new information may alter the picture described here.
Read Also
- Ukraine War: The Numbers the World Ignores
- Targeted Education: Students Without Critical Thinking
- 20 Little-Known Facts About World War II
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Lulinha arrested?
No. As of February 2026, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva (Lulinha) has not been arrested or formally indicted in the INSS case. However, the STF authorized breaking his bank, tax, and telematic secrecy, and the CPMI also approved the same measure. Lulinha currently resides in Spain.
Who are the informants in the INSS case?
The plea deals under negotiation involve Virgílio Oliveira Filho (former INSS prosecutor) and André Fidelis (former Benefits Director), both imprisoned since November 13, 2025. Additionally, Edson Claro Medeiros Jr., former employee of the "Careca do INSS," provided over 70 hours of testimony to the Federal Police.
What is Lulinha's connection to the Careca do INSS?
According to investigations, Lulinha was allegedly a "hidden partner" of Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, the "Careca do INSS," in businesses linked to social security fraud. The PF investigates whether Lulinha received a monthly R$ 300,000 "allowance" through businesswoman Roberta Luchsinger, and whether both maintained a medicinal cannabis company in Portugal (World Cannabis).
How much money is he accused of receiving?
According to Edson Claro's testimony to the Federal Police, Lulinha allegedly received values totaling up to R$ 25 million, including a monthly "allowance" of approximately R$ 300,000. These amounts, if confirmed, would have been paid through Roberta Luchsinger and companies linked to the Careca do INSS.
Could the case lead to Lula's impeachment?
To date, there is no direct evidence that President Lula had knowledge of or participation in the activities under investigation. His son's involvement does not, by itself, constitute grounds for presidential impeachment. However, the political damage could affect governability and the government's image.
Sources: Estadão, Folha de São Paulo, UOL, CNN Brasil, Revista Oeste, Poder360, InfoMoney, Brasil Paralelo, Diário do Poder, Congresso em Foco, Brazilian Senate, Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Federal Police, CGU. Data updated through February 26, 2026.
