A 37-year-old woman in Brazil has been found guilty of fraud and false identity after posing as a child for 15 years, according to a release from the Court of Justice of Santa Catarina.

Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was convicted on Thursday for her role in an "elaborate fraud," during which she used a high-pitched, childlike voice and claimed she had been forced to take hormones to appear older. Oliveira lived with a foster family as their daughter for 14 months before the scheme was uncovered. She had told the family she had fled abuse.

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

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

Oliveira stated she wanted to experience the love she lacked as a child, saying, “There was a certain void in me, a need to have that kind of care, so I always sought it out.”

Her lawyer, Lúcio Sousa, argued that the scheme was a means of survival and noted that Oliveira had lived on the streets and was a vulnerable person for more than 20 years. Sousa stated that there were no allegations that she had obtained financial advantage, committed robbery, or theft. Following the verdict, Sousa said they would pursue legal measures and appeals in higher courts.