In January 2015 Brazilian authorities
filed a criminal case
against TelexFree and owners Carlos Wanzeler and Carlos Costa.

The case was filed on the back of an investigation that began in 2013, seeking to establish whether TelexFree’s VOIP offering was illegal.

The case recently went to trial and has been playing out in the Federal Criminal Court of Victoria.

Last Thursday Wanzeler, a
wanted fugitive in the US
, took to the stand to testify.

During his testimony, Wanzeler
told the Brazilian court
“We (TelexFree’s founders) just wanted to be a telephone company in Brazil”.

Federal prosecutors have alleged TelexFree’s Brazilian company, Ympactus ‘
switched fixed telephone service (STFC) without authorization from the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel)
‘.

Wanzeler denies there was anything illegal about TelexFree’s VOIP service.

At the time we started the company, Anatel said there was nothing wrong.

Carlos Costa having previously testified, continues to blame TelexFree in the US for any irregularities with Ympactus’ VOIP offering.

This despite TelexFree and Ympactus being also owned by Wanzeler, Costa and James Merrill.

The hearing that lasted four hours ended without sentence.

The judge gave ten days for the Federal Public Ministry and the defense of the accused to make new steps and final claims.

Presumably a ruling will be made after final claims have been made by both parties.

In addition to telecommunications fraud, Carlos Wanzeler is also being investigated for crimes against the financial system. This includes money laundering, tax evasion, embezzlement and “other offences”.

🤖 Quick Answer

What criminal charges did Brazilian authorities file against TelexFree in 2015?
In January 2015, Brazilian authorities filed a criminal case against TelexFree and its owners Carlos Wanzeler and Carlos Costa, following an investigation initiated in 2013 to determine whether the company's VOIP services operated illegally without proper telecommunications authorization.

Why is Carlos Wanzeler considered a fugitive in the United States?
Carlos Wanzeler is classified as a wanted fugitive in the US due to TelexFree's alleged involvement in fraudulent VOIP operations and unauthorized telecommunications services that violated federal regulations and consumer protection laws.

What specific violation did federal prosecutors allege against TelexFree's Brazilian operations?
Federal prosecutors alleged that TelexFree's Brazilian company Ympactus switched fixed telephone service without authorization from Anatel, Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency,

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