Lava Jato criminal cases against Alberto Youssef

Body: 13th Federal Court of Curitiba
Subject: Money laundering and corruption (Banestado, Petrobras and others).

Status as of October 24, 2026: Lava Jato acts annulled on July 15, 2025; effect on convictions in other courts (Maringá, Copel/Olvepar) not found.

Sources (2)

On July 15, 2025, Dias Toffoli annulled all Lava Jato acts against Youssef, including Moro's decisions, citing 'collusion' among the PF, the MPF and Moro; he stated that the decision does not invalidate the plea agreement. Youssef's defense maintains that a clandestine recording in a PF cell in 2014, which allegedly lasted 11 days, was used to pressure him into signing the plea agreement.

Judicial or administrative decisionSeveral independent sources

Source: Toffoli anula todos os atos da Lava Jato contra Alberto Youssef — CNN Brasil, July 15, 2025 · body of the article · open original ↗

According to Youssef's defense, as reported by CNN Brasil, a clandestine recording of conversations in the PF cell in 2014 lasted 11 days and was used to pressure him into making a plea agreement.

Response/defenseAllegation

Source: Toffoli anula todos os atos da Lava Jato contra Alberto Youssef — CNN Brasil, July 15, 2025 · body of the article · open original ↗

Parties and roles

Alberto Youssef — defendant/cooperating witness (since Mar. 17, 2014)
Sources (1)
Youssef was arrested on March 17, 2014 (Lava Jato) and the three-year sentence in the closed regime is counted from that date; in March 2017 he moved to house arrest with an ankle monitor.
News reportSingle source
Source: Alberto Youssef (verbete da Wikipédia em português) — Portuguese-language Wikipedia, Oct. 24, 2026 · section Arrests · open original ↗

Case history

Dec. 2014
Plea agreement approved by Teori Zavascki.
Sources (1)
The STF (Teori Zavascki) approved Youssef's plea agreement in December 2014 (December 19, 2014 according to the entry on Teori) and, in August 2015, the full court unanimously recognized the validity of the testimony and evidence; the sentences, which totaled 122 years, were reduced to three years because of the cooperation.
News reportSingle source
Source: Alberto Youssef (verbete da Wikipédia em português) — Portuguese-language Wikipedia, Oct. 24, 2026 · section Plea agreement · open original ↗
Aug. 2015
Full court of the STF confirmed the validity of the evidence from the plea agreement.
Sources (1)
The STF (Teori Zavascki) approved Youssef's plea agreement in December 2014 (December 19, 2014 according to the entry on Teori) and, in August 2015, the full court unanimously recognized the validity of the testimony and evidence; the sentences, which totaled 122 years, were reduced to three years because of the cooperation.
News reportSingle source
Source: Alberto Youssef (verbete da Wikipédia em português) — Portuguese-language Wikipedia, Oct. 24, 2026 · section Plea agreement · open original ↗
July 15, 2025
Toffoli annulled all Lava Jato acts against Youssef (without invalidating the plea agreement).
Sources (1)
On July 15, 2025, Dias Toffoli annulled all Lava Jato acts against Youssef, including Moro's decisions, citing 'collusion' among the PF, the MPF and Moro; he stated that the decision does not invalidate the plea agreement. Youssef's defense maintains that a clandestine recording in a PF cell in 2014, which allegedly lasted 11 days, was used to pressure him into signing the plea agreement.
Judicial or administrative decisionSeveral independent sources
Source: Toffoli anula todos os atos da Lava Jato contra Alberto Youssef — CNN Brasil, July 15, 2025 · body of the article · open original ↗