Woman in her 30s who pretended to be a child and lived with family found guilty of fraud

Guilty Verdict in Santa Catarina

A Brazilian court has found Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 37, guilty of fraud and false identity after she spent more than a year living with a foster family while pretending to be a child. The conviction was announced Thursday by the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina, according to a translated release cited by Fox News and the New York Post.

Oliveira had been taken in by the family as their daughter for 14 months before her deception was uncovered. She initially claimed she had fled abuse, but later admitted to creating a false identity and age, the court said.

The case drew attention due to its unusual circumstances: Oliveira had reportedly been living falsely as a child for 15 years in what the Washington Post described as an "elaborate fraud." According to that report, she used a high-pitched, childlike voice and told people she had been forced to take hormones to make her look older.

Sentencing and Defense

The court sentenced Oliveira to one year, six months and 10 days in prison, along with four months and 18 days of detention, as reported by both outlets.

Her lawyer, Lúcio Sousa, offered a defense emphasizing hardship rather than malicious intent. "She admits that she invented an identity," Sousa said before the verdict, according to the Washington Post. "It was the way she found to survive. But she has been a vulnerable person for more than 20 years." He added that Oliveira had lived on the streets and that there had been no allegation she obtained any financial advantage or committed robbery or theft, which he argued meant the elements of fraud had not been established.

Oliveira herself acknowledged her deception but denied any intent to harm. "Of course, I deceived people, I lied," she said, according to police, as reported by the Washington Post. "But I didn't intend to scam anyone." She explained her actions as a search for affection: "There was a certain void in me, a need to have that kind of care, so I always sought it out," she said, expressing a desire to experience the love she never received as a child.

Next Steps

Following the verdict, Sousa indicated plans to contest the decision. In a statement on Instagram, he said they would "pursue all appropriate legal measures and appeals before the higher courts," as reported by both Fox News and the New York Post.