A court in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, sentenced influencer Dilson Alves da Silva Neto and his wife, Gabriela Vicente de Sousa, to prison on June 23, 2026 [3], [4].
The ruling targets a high-profile operation involving illegal lotteries and financial crimes. The case highlights the legal risks associated with unregulated digital raffle schemes often promoted by social media personalities to attract followers and funds.
Neto, known publicly as Nego Di, received a sentence of 14 years and six months of imprisonment [1]. His wife, Gabriela Vicente de Sousa, was sentenced to eight years and four months [2].
The judicial decision follows a series of charges including estelionato, which is fraud, and qualified money laundering [1], [2]. The court also found the couple guilty of using false documents, and operating an illegal lottery, specifically through a scheme involving rifas [1], [3].
Brazilian authorities focused on how the couple managed the proceeds from these illegal raffles to conceal the origin of the funds. The use of false documentation was central to the prosecution's argument that the pair intentionally deceived participants and regulators [2], [4].
Legal proceedings in Rio Grande do Sul concluded that the scale of the fraud required significant prison terms to serve as a deterrent [4], [5]. The sentencing marks the end of a lengthy investigation into the couple's financial activities during their rise to fame on social media [3].
“Nego Di received a sentence of 14 years and six months of imprisonment”
This sentencing reflects a broader crackdown by Brazilian authorities on 'influencer fraud,' where social media reach is leveraged to run unlicensed gambling or raffle operations. By imposing double-digit prison terms, the judiciary is signaling that digital platforms do not provide a legal shield for traditional financial crimes such as money laundering and document forgery.
