After the consulate's computer system identified him as a fugitive, and one of the most wanted men in the world, together with Bin Laden, Matteo Messina Denaro, and El Chapo, with a Red Notice issued by Interpol,[8] he was arrested at the Consulate by a 50 men sting operation run by the FBI and the Brazilian Federal police, accusing him of laundering money for the Italian mafia;[6][9] he later became known in the press as "the mafia's banker".

[10][4][11] While awaiting extradition to Italy, he was placed in a maximum security prison along with notorious criminals such as Colombian drug lord Pablo Rayo Montaño, Pablo Escobar private pilot together with Barry Seal former United States Marine Corps Captain Pierre Jacques Hernandez Delannoy, Leonardo Badalamenti son of Gaetano Badalamenti one of the most powerful member of the Sicilian mafia, and Italian terrorist Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari Pierluigi Bragaglia.

[12] In 2015, Longobardi self published on Amazon (company) his book Branded "The Mafia's Banker" (Italian: Per tutti ero il banchiere dei clan) documenting his experience during his arrest and time in prison,[4] it became a worldwide bestseller.

A video promoting the book was released on YouTube on 22 October 2015, reaching over 1 million views and winning the Best Trailer/Promos award for May 2016 at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.

[20] In 2020 Longobardi returned to the world of finance, launching a new venture capital and a private equity firm and remains a strong idealist and active investor in some of the most disruptive blockchain projects.