What began as a family opening its doors to someone they believed was a vulnerable child reportedly turned into a shocking case of deception. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira has now been convicted in Brazil after authorities determined that the woman, who is in her late 30s, had allegedly been posing as a 12-year-old girl while living with a foster family for more than a year.
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Oliviera Allegedly Posed As 12-Year-Old Before Conviction
According to a translated media release from the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina, Oliveira was convicted on Thursday, Aug. 20, in Joinville, Santa Catarina, on charges involving fraud and the use of a false identity. The court said she had presented herself as a 12-year-old with a history of abuse and health problems after being placed with the family in 2023 through a local organization that works with vulnerable children.
She Lived As “Gabriel” With The Family For 14 Months
During the 14 months she lived with the family, Oliveira was reportedly treated “as a daughter.” The family provided her with housing, food, medication, and other care. The court determined that Oliveira gained a financial advantage because the family covered her living expenses. The court also considered the emotional and family impact of the alleged deception when issuing its ruling.
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According to The Washington Post, Oliveira went by the name “Gabriel” while living with the family and allegedly spoke in a high-pitched, childlike voice when she was first taken in. She reportedly claimed she had escaped abuse, but people around her eventually began noticing inconsistencies in her story, leading authorities to uncover her actual age and identity. Oliveira later admitted to authorities that she had lied.
Oliveira Sentenced As Her Legal Team Plans Appeal
Oliveira was sentenced to approximately 18 months in prison, followed by about five months of detention under a semi-open prison regime, according to the court. Authorities also alleged that she had carried out similar fraud schemes in other parts of Brazil in previous years. Her attorney, Lúcio Sousa, has disputed the ruling. He described Oliveira as a vulnerable person who had previously lived on the streets. Sousa also maintained that she did not cause financial losses to the family. Following the conviction, her legal team said it disagrees with the decision. The team plans to pursue appeals while continuing to argue for her innocence.
