14/ 47Salary kickbacks
Queiroz wrote that he collected part of the salaries. Flávio says he did not know.
In 2019, Fabrício Queiroz, Flávio Bolsonaro’s aide at the Alerj, told the MP-RJ in writing that he collected part of other office aides’ salaries to pay more informal helpers in the electoral base, and that Flávio did not know[1]. Prosecutors filed charges against Flávio in 2020[2]; the charges were rejected in 2022, without a ruling on the merits, after the courts invalidated the evidence[3].
6 Dec. 2018 · Coaf report on Queiroz’s account
Coaf flagged R$ 1.2 million in atypical transactions in Flávio’s aide’s account, from January 2016 to January 2017. Among the records was a R$ 24,000 check to Michelle Bolsonaro.[4]
7 Dec. 2018 · Jair Bolsonaro, president-elect, on the check
It was not R$ 24,000, it was R$ 40,000. […] I could have put it in my account. It went into my wife’s account.[5]
Mar. 2019 · Fabrício Queiroz, in writing, to the MP-RJ
Queiroz said he collected part of other aides’ salaries to pay informal helpers, through the “multiplication of aides in the electoral base”. He wrote that Flávio did not know.[1]
June 18, 2020 · Atibaia (SP), property of Flávio’s lawyer
Queiroz was arrested at a property belonging to Frederick Wassef, Flávio’s lawyer. In 2019, Wassef had said at least twice that he did not know where Queiroz was.[6]
25 Aug. 2020 · Meeting at the Planalto, according to the PF
In front of Jair Bolsonaro and Flávio’s lawyers, Abin director Alexandre Ramagem said proceedings against Receita auditors were needed “with a view to nullifying the investigation”.[7]
Nov. 2020 · MP-RJ, on the office from 2007 to 2018
Prosecutors charged Flávio, Queiroz and 15 others with embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, misappropriation and participation in a criminal organization[2]. The charges would be rejected in 2022 without a ruling on the merits.[3]
Dec. 2020 · Abin report; the defense confirmed it, the GSI denied it
defend FB in the Alerj case[8]
Nov. 2021 · STJ (9 Nov.) and STF (30 Nov.)
The STJ overturned the first-instance judge’s decisions: jurisdiction over Flávio lay with the TJ-RJ[9]. The STF invalidated four Coaf reports and the MP-RJ’s evidence against him.[10]
May 16, 2022 · Special Bench of the TJ-RJ
The charges were rejected “for lack of just cause”, at the MP-RJ’s own request, because the evidence had been invalidated. The merits were never judged.[3]
6 Apr. 2026 · Flávio Bolsonaro, on the Inteligência Ltda. podcast
He said there were people he had hired and from whom he collected part of their salary, and he put in writing that I had never known about it.[11]
The first Coaf report, submitted without a request, was the only one the STF upheld as valid[10].
The aide
What Queiroz wrote
Fabrício Queiroz was a Parliamentary Aide III in Flávio’s office at the Alerj, as well as a PM officer, his driver and bodyguard[4]. In 2019, he told the MP-RJ in writing that he collected part of other aides’ salaries to pay informal helpers: the “multiplication of aides in the electoral base”[1].
He also wrote that Flávio did not know “the internal architecture of the mechanism he created” and that he acted because of the “trust and autonomy he had”[1]. In 2026, Flávio repeats that account: he did not know[11].
The check
R$ 24,000 or R$ 40,000
Coaf flagged R$ 1.2 million in transactions in Queiroz’s account between January 2016 and January 2017, an amount “incompatible” with his assets and income[4]. It was the only Coaf report in the case that the STF upheld as valid[10].
Among the records was a R$ 24,000 check to Michelle Bolsonaro[4]. Jair Bolsonaro, then president-elect, said it was R$ 40,000 in ten checks: repayment of a loan he made to Queiroz and did not declare for income tax[5].
The Abin
Abin, Planalto and the defense
In August 2020, at the Planalto, in front of Jair Bolsonaro and Flávio’s lawyers, Abin director Alexandre Ramagem advocated proceedings against Receita auditors “with a view to nullifying the investigation”, according to the PF[7].
In December, Abin reports guiding Flávio’s defense became public; one says its purpose was to “defend FB in the Alerj case”. The defense confirmed their origin; the GSI denied it[8]. In the “parallel Abin” inquiry, the PF formally named Ramagem and Carlos Bolsonaro as suspects; Flávio was not formally named as a suspect[12].
The outcome
Charges rejected, merits never judged
Prosecutors filed charges against Flávio in 2020; his defense said the accusation was “devoid of any evidentiary indication”[2]. In 2022, at the MP-RJ’s own request, the charges were rejected without a ruling on the merits because the evidence had been invalidated[3]. The STF called the MP-RJ investigation a “fishing expedition”[10]. In 2025, Gilmar Mendes upheld the closure and said the invalidations did not prevent new charges[13].
Queiroz and seven former office aides are defendants in a 2023 administrative misconduct action; Flávio is not[14]. The civil case against him became time-barred[15]. Flávio says: “I have never faced criminal proceedings over this”[11]. On October 25, he asks for your vote.
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References15 sources
- 01Gazeta do Povo · Queiroz diz que recebia salário de outros assessores para ampliar base de Flávio BolsonaroQueiroz’s written statement to the MP-RJ: the “multiplication of aides in the electoral base” and that Flávio did not know.(opens in a new tab)
- 02Agência Brasil · MP do Rio denuncia 17 investigados por lavagem de dinheiro e peculatoThe charges against 17 people, including Flávio and Queiroz, the offences, the period and the defense’s response.(opens in a new tab)
- 03Agência Brasil · Justiça do Rio arquiva processo de caso de supostas rachadinhasThe Special Bench of the TJ-RJ rejected the charges for lack of just cause, at the MP-RJ’s request, after the evidence was invalidated.(opens in a new tab)
- 04Diário do Nordeste · Coaf relata movimentação atípica de ex-assessor de Flávio BolsonaroR$ 1.2 million in transactions by Queiroz in 2016–2017, the R$ 24,000 check and Queiroz’s position.(opens in a new tab)
- 05Agência Brasil · Dinheiro para Michelle foi quitação de empréstimo, diz Jair BolsonaroJair Bolsonaro’s explanation: R$ 40,000 in ten checks, repayment of an undeclared loan.(opens in a new tab)
- 06CNN Brasil · Queiroz foi preso em imóvel de Frederick Wassef, advogado de Flávio BolsonaroQueiroz’s arrest in Atibaia, at Wassef’s property, and what Wassef had said in 2019.(opens in a new tab)
- 07Exame · ‘Abin paralela’: investigação descobriu áudio entre Bolsonaro e Ramagem para proteger FlávioThe meeting of 25 August 2020 and what Ramagem said about the auditors, according to the PF.(opens in a new tab)
- 08Poder360 · Abin produziu relatórios para ‘defender Flávio Bolsonaro’ no caso QueirozThe Abin reports (“defend FB in the Alerj case”), the defense’s confirmation and the GSI’s denial.(opens in a new tab)
- 09Conjur · STJ anula atos de juiz contra Flávio Bolsonaro no caso das rachadinhasThe STJ overturned the first-instance judge’s decisions for lack of jurisdiction (jurisdiction lay with the TJ-RJ).(opens in a new tab)
- 10Conjur · Supremo anula relatórios do Coaf sobre Flávio BolsonaroThe STF invalidated four Coaf reports and the MP-RJ’s evidence against Flávio; upheld the first, unsolicited report; “fishing expedition”.(opens in a new tab)
- 11Estado de Minas · Flávio quer abordar ‘rachadinha’ na pré-campanha e nega irregularidadesFlávio’s statements on the Inteligência Ltda. podcast on 6 April 2026.(opens in a new tab)
- 12CNN Brasil · Abin Paralela: PF confirma atuação de Bolsonaro e indicia Ramagem e CarlosThe PF formally named Ramagem and Carlos Bolsonaro as suspects; Flávio was not formally named as a suspect.(opens in a new tab)
- 13InfoMoney · Gilmar nega recursos e mantém arquivado caso das “rachadinhas” de Flávio BolsonaroGilmar Mendes upheld the closure; the invalidations would not prevent new charges.(opens in a new tab)
- 14ICL Notícias · MP-RJ obtém nova quebra de sigilo de ex de miliciano e ex-assessores de Flávio BolsonaroQueiroz and seven former aides are defendants in the 2023 administrative misconduct action; Flávio is not a defendant.(opens in a new tab)
- 15ICL Notícias (Folhapress) · TJ-RJ negou tentativa de retomada do caso ‘rachadinha’ contra Flávio BolsonaroThe civil proceedings against Flávio were closed because they were time-barred.(opens in a new tab)