The Brazilian Federal Police’s Operation Baixo Augusta uncovered a bribery scheme involving the release of public funds to JBS. According to the Federal Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas da União – TCU), a tax auditor from the Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) allegedly approved the release of credits worth R$822 million (approximately US$ 250 million at that time) to J&F Investimentos, the holding company of JBS, in exchange for R$160 million (approximately US$ 49 million at that time) in bribes. The investigation originated from the company’s plea bargain agreement with the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal – MPF), and the tax auditor was sanctioned by the Federal Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas da União – TCU) in 2024.

The Brazilian National Congress established a Multi-partisan Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) to investigate the activities of JBS and its holding company, J&F Investimentos. The commission focused on examining the plea bargain agreements signed between the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal – MPF) and company executives, as well as possible irregularities in deals with the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) between 2007 and 2016. The commission’s final vote included a request to indict brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista.

J&F Investimentos, the holding company of JBS, agreed to pay a fine of R$10.3 billion ((around US$ 3.16 billion at that time)) as part of a leniency agreement—the largest ever signed in Brazil—with the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal – MPF). The agreement covers offenses investigated against the holding company in various Federal Police operations, including Carne Fraca, Cui Bono, Greenfield, and Sepsis. In 2023, Supreme Court Justice Dias Toffoli suspended the remaining payments still owed by the company.