Joesley Batista

In 2023, the STF suspended payment of the leniency fine agreed by J&F, citing doubts about whether the agreement had been entered into voluntarily. In 2025, a federal judge ordered its recalculation, a decision challenged by the MPF.

State of the evidence

Documented

The Batista brothers' return to the JBS board and its New York listing revived criticism concerning their corruption history, enhanced voting-rights governance structure and the group's political influence. Pilgrim’s Pride's $5 million contribution to the Trump-Vance inaugural committee was also questioned in the United States.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Federal Police and prosecutors accused Joesley and Wesley of using advance knowledge of their cooperation agreement to sell shares and take positions in the dollar before the May 2017 crisis. In 2023, the CVM ultimately acquitted J&F and both brothers of the administrative insider trading allegations.

Attribution

Accused

Following the discovery of recordings suggesting that relevant information, particularly concerning former prosecutor Marcello Miller's involvement, had not been disclosed when the agreement was concluded, the PGR requested a review of Joesley's cooperation agreement; the STF ordered and subsequently upheld his pre-trial detention.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Close aide

Joesley Batista and J&F executives acknowledged an extensive system of unlawful payments and political financing serving the group's interests, estimated by the sources to involve nearly 1,800–1,900 officials or candidates.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Close aide

As part of his cooperation agreement, Joesley recorded a conversation with President Michel Temer. Publication of its contents triggered a major political crisis, a fall in financial markets and new allegations against the president.

State of the evidence

Documented

Joesley told Temer that he was continuing payments to Eduardo Cunha and Lúcio Funaro, described in the investigation as linked to securing their silence and settling “outstanding matters” [pendências] arising from earlier relationships with J&F.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Joesley provided authorities with a recording in which Aécio Neves requested R$ 2 million; the subsequent transfer of the funds was monitored as part of a controlled operation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Joesley told the Federal Police that he had periodically made deposits abroad at Guido Mantega's request, some of which were allegedly used for the 2014 presidential campaign through undeclared channels.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

The MPF maintained that Joesley and J&F executives had failed to disclose facts relating to BNDES financing during their cooperation and considered separate prosecutions and claims for compensation.

State of the evidence

Alleged