The group behind Brazil’s biggest-ever corruption probe has tracked the $1.5 billion bribery scheme that started with Petroleo Brasileiro SA across four continents. Now, the team of prosecutors, police and one dogged judge may be facing their biggest challenge yet: hanging on to the investigation.
Defense attorneys are trying to chip away at the judge’s jurisdiction, arguing that the sprawling case that has crippled Brazil’s economy and paralyzed its government should be spread across courts. While some members of the group themselves acknowledge that it’s become too big for one unit after more than 300 raids, 100 arrests and 30 convictions, they are in no mood to give up a single piece of it.
“If this case gets broken up,” warns federal prosecutor Carlos Lima, whatever gets sent to other states “will be buried in a mass grave.”
If Lima sounds like a doomsayer, he’s got good reason. There’s a long history of corruption in Latin America’s biggest economy, but it wasn’t until the group of 11 prosecutors — they call themselves the Workforce — along with Judge Sergio Moro and federal police, began uncovering and punishing wrongdoers that it became apparent just how widespread graft is. Scatter the investigation across cities and states, Lima said, and it will be all too easy to sweep under the rug.
Brazil Energy Insight 
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