Judge Ricardo Almeida, from the Mato Grosso Court of Justice (TJMT), is among the targets of Operation Heritage, launched by the Federal Police this Thursday morning (6). The action investigates suspicions of embezzlement, money laundering and use of privileged information in a R$308 million agreement signed between the State of Mato Grosso and the operator Oi.
TJMT judge is target of PF in investigation into R$308 million agreement
Judge Ricardo Almeida, from the Mato Grosso Court of Justice (TJMT), is among the targets of Operation Heritage, launched by the Federal Police this Thursday morning (6). The action investigates suspicions of embezzlement, money laundering...
Former governor Mauro Mendes, candidate for the Senate, also appears among those investigated. During the operation, Federal Police agents carried out search and seizure warrants at Ricardo Almeida's residence and at an office linked to the magistrate, located at Centro Empresarial Maruanã, on Avenida do CPA, in Cuiabá.
- Before joining TJ-MT, Almeida worked as a lawyer.
- In 2022, he purchased, for R$80 million, credit rights that Oi had against the State of Mato Grosso.
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Former governor Mauro Mendes, candidate for the Senate, also appears among those investigated.
During the operation, Federal Police agents carried out search and seizure warrants at Ricardo Almeida's residence and at an office linked to the magistrate, located at Centro Empresarial Maruanã, on Avenida do CPA, in Cuiabá.
Before joining TJ-MT, Almeida worked as a lawyer. In 2022, he purchased, for R$80 million, credit rights that Oi had against the State of Mato Grosso. Subsequently, he participated in the intermediation of the agreement signed on April 10, 2024 between the State Attorney General's Office (PGE-MT) and the operator, which resulted in the payment of R$308,123,595.50 by the State Treasury.
About a year and a half later, in November 2025, Ricardo Almeida was appointed judge of the TJ-MT by then governor Mauro Mendes. He became a member of the Fifth Constitutional Chamber allocated to the Brazilian Bar Association in Mato Grosso (OAB-MT).
In total, Operation Heritage carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, issued by the Federal Supreme Court (STF), in Mato Grosso, São Paulo, Rondônia and Ceará.
The decision also authorized measures such as breach of banking and tax secrecy, blocking and unavailability of assets up to an approximate limit of R$316 million, prohibition of leaving the country with the collection of passports, prohibition of contact between those under investigation and other precautions.
According to the Federal Police, the investigation began with the analysis of the agreement between the State and Oi, related to the refund of amounts arising from a tax dispute.
The PF points to evidence that the financial operation would have been used to divert public resources in excess of R$308 million. According to the investigation, the alleged scheme would have used cascading investment funds and intermediary companies to hide and disguise the origin, movement and destination of the values.
The facts discovered could constitute, in theory, crimes of criminal organization, embezzlement, money laundering, crimes against the National Financial System and improper use of privileged information. Other infractions may also be identified during the investigations.
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