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

A woman in Brazil was found guilty this week of living with a foster family for more than a year while pretending to be a child, officials said.

Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, who is in reality 37 years old, was convicted of fraud and false identity on Thursday, according to a translated release from the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina in Brazil.

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Oliveira had been living falsely as a child for 15 years in an “elaborate fraud,” the Washington Post reported, using a high-pitched, childlike voice and even telling people she had been forced to get hormones to make her look older.

She was sentenced to one year, six months and 10 days in prison, along with four months and 18 days of detention.

One of her lawyers, Lúcio Sousa, said that Oliveira’s scheme was how she “survived.”

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“She has lived on the streets, and there has been no allegation that she obtained any financial advantage, or committed robbery or theft, which, in theory, means the elements of fraud have not been established.”

Oliveira said she never meant to hurt anyone.

“Of course, I deceived people, I lied,” she said, according to police, the Post reported. “But I didn’t intend to scam anyone.”

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After the verdict, Sousa said in a statement on Instagram, they would “pursue all appropriate legal measures and appeals before the higher courts.”

(*) Full article: https://www.foxnews.com/world/woman-30s-pretended-child-lived-family-found-guilty-fraud