Fleury was known for his violent temper and was officially accused of torture and homicide of numerous people, but drowned at sea before being tried.
Several prisoner reports and witness testimonies indicate that he consistently used torture during interrogations during the time of the military regime.
[5][6] Besides using torture, Fleury was investigated and denounced by prosecutors Hélio Bicudo and Dirceu de Mello for murders committed by the Death Squadron.
The Public Prosecutor of São Paulo found him to be the main leader of the Death Squadron which was responsible for innumerable extrajudicial killings in Brazil.
[clarification needed][7] His biography by Brazilian journalist Percival de Souza, titled Autópsia do Medo, details his involvement with torture and several extrajudicial killings.