Crypto Fraud Scandal: Brazil Sends 3 to Prison for 171 Years! You Won’t Believe It!

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Well, folks, it seems the sun has finally set on one of Brazil’s most audacious crypto schemes. The federal court, with all the power and grace of a gavel-wielding beast, sentenced three members of the now-defunct Braiscompany to a total of 171 years in prison. That’s a lot of time to think about bad decisions. 😅

Leading the parade of doom is Joel Ferreira de Souza, the so-called mastermind behind this crypto pyramid, who was hit with a whopping 128 years, 5 months, and 28 days in the slammer. And why? Well, because he thought it’d be a good idea to set up illegal financial operations with shell companies and informal crypto transactions. I guess his idea of ‘high returns’ was a bit… *too* high. 🚀💸

Then there’s Gesana Rayane Silva, a broker who should’ve probably stayed in a less risky line of work. She got 27 years for moving money and making things… let’s say *disappear*. Money laundering, folks, it’s the gift that keeps on giving—straight to prison!

And let’s not forget about Victor Augusto Veronez de Souza, Joel’s son. Ah, the family business. He got 15 years for playing his part in laundering funds, presumably while giving his dad a “Great job, dad!” high five. 🤦‍♂️

$220 Million in Funds (and Gone with the Wind!)

Now, don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t just some backyard operation. This was an expertly run machine, raising over R$1.11 billion (around $220 million) from nearly 20,000 investors. I mean, who wouldn’t be impressed by such numbers? If you’re looking for a lesson on how to make a *really bad* financial decision, this was the school for it. 🏫💸

The judge, Vinicius Costa Vidor, had a field day with the verdict, calling Braiscompany a ‘parallel financial system’—fancy talk for ‘we’re hiding your money, suckers!’ The court did toss out two other individuals in the case, but honestly, not everyone is cut out for such… creativity. 🍻

And while all this was happening, assets worth R$36 million were seized and will be handed over to the Brazilian government. Don’t worry, the authorities will be thrilled to put that money to *good* use. Maybe some public schools or roads or something. 🚗💨

Just a year ago, Braiscompany’s owner, Antonio Inacio da Silva Neto, and his partner in crime, Fabricia Farias Campos, were hauled back from Argentina and sentenced to a combined 150 years. I guess it’s just a family affair, isn’t it? 📅

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2025-04-18 17:23