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A 38-year-old woman has been sentenced after authorities discovered she had allegedly posed as a vulnerable 12-year-old girl and lived with a foster family for more than a year.
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was convicted of fraud and using a false identity in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, on Thursday, August 20.
According to the Santa Catarina Court of Justice, Oliveira convinced a family that she was a 12-year-old with “a history of abuse” and “health problems," per PEOPLE.
The family subsequently welcomed her into their home and reportedly treated her “as a daughter” for 14 months.
During that period, they provided her with “housing, food, medication and other care,” according to the court.
Oliveira reportedly used the name “Gabriel” while staying with the family.
According to reports, the 38-year-old was placed with the family in 2023 after approaching a local organization that supports vulnerable children.
At the time, Oliveira allegedly spoke in a high-pitched, childlike voice and claimed that she had escaped an abusive situation.
The arrangement meant the family covered her day-to-day expenses, allowing Oliveira to gain what the court described as a “financial advantage.”
Authorities eventually became suspicious after people around her reportedly noticed inconsistencies in her story.
Oliveira later admitted that she had lied about both her age and identity.
The court also considered what it described as “the emotional and family impacts” of the deception when reaching its decision.
After Oliveira's actions came to light, a volunteer in Rio de Janeiro said Oliveira contacted her in 2023, allegedly claiming her father had forced her into prostitution, practiced witchcraft, and that she needed help, per The New York Post.
Oliveira reportedly presented herself as an autistic teenager and spoke in a childlike voice, but volunteers became suspicious after noticing needles beneath her skin.
Medical imaging reportedly revealed more than 200 needles embedded in her body, which investigators believe she inserted herself to support her abuse claims.
Oliveira reportedly fled Rio following the discovery and allegedly repeated similar schemes elsewhere, posing as a vulnerable child to obtain housing and financial support.
Reports state that Oliveira had previously claimed she had autism and had undergone hormone treatment, which she said explained why she appeared older than the age she claimed to be, per G1 Santa Catarina.
Her lawyer, Lúcio Sousa, described Oliveira as a “vulnerable person” who had “lived on the streets.”
However, Sousa disputed the suggestion that the family had suffered financially as a result of Oliveira living with them.
Authorities also reportedly alleged that she had been involved in similar fraudulent incidents elsewhere in Brazil in previous years.
Following her conviction, Oliveira received a sentence of approximately 18 months in prison, followed by around five months of detention under a semi-open prison regime.
Her legal team has strongly rejected the court's decision and plans to appeal.
In a statement shared on social media, Sousa said the defence would “pursue all appropriate legal measures and appeals before the higher courts.”
The statement added that the legal team would “continue tirelessly in its efforts to prove Amanda’s innocence.”
The Santa Catarina Civil Police had not immediately responded to requests for further comment on the case.
