Major MAGA ally hurls threats over alleged links to billion-dollar Chinese fraud scheme
A Brazilian right-wing influencer who helped orchestrate Trump's recent sanctions against Brazil's Supreme Court is now facing scrutiny over alleged financial ties to a convicted Chinese fraudster.
Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of Brazil's former military dictator, stood alongside Eduardo Bolsonaro outside the White House in July after what they called "a very important round of meetings" with Trump administration officials. The pair had successfully lobbied for 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports and sanctions targeting Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
But court documents reveal Figueiredo's Florida company, International Treasure Group, received $140,000 in what bankruptcy trustees allege was a fraudulent transfer from Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui's shell company, according to a report from Mother Jones.
Guo, who was convicted in July 2024 on nine criminal counts including money laundering and racketeering, allegedly operated a billion-dollar fraud scheme while living lavishly in New York, according to the report.
The bankruptcy complaint states the transfer was "actually fraudulent" and made "with the intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud the Debtor's creditors." Figueiredo failed to respond to the legal action, resulting in a default judgment against his company.
Figueiredo also had ties to the social media platform Gettr, which was controlled by Guo and sponsored events supporting Jair Bolsonaro's 2022 reelection campaign. A former Gettr official confirmed Figueiredo "worked helping to recruit social media influencers to join the platform" during its early launch phase.
When asked about the fraud allegations, Figueiredo called the questions "bulls--t" and threatened: "I know how to deal with people like that," Mother Jones reported.
After months of lobbying by Figueiredo and Eduardo Bolsonaro, Trump imposed sanctions on Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling the Brazilian justice "responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship."
Figueiredo, who faces coup-related charges in Brazil, has been working with Eduardo Bolsonaro since 2022 to pressure the U.S. government. Bolsonaro relocated to Texas this year, vowing: "Alexandre, my life goal will be to make you pay for all your cruelty toward innocent people."
The pair celebrated the sanctions as "mission accomplished," viewing their Washington influence operation as crucial to the Brazilian far-right's political future. As Figueiredo put it: if Bolsonaro "had done the international work we're doing now...he wouldn't have left office."