The husband of singer Perlla, Patrick Abrahão, was arrested by the Federal Police this Wednesday morning (19) in Rio de Janeiro. He was one of the leaders of the possible financial pyramid Trust Investing, a cryptocurrency company that had been delaying withdrawals for a few months. The scheme has operated in several countries, with Brazil being just one of the arms of the possible transnational financial pyramid, as it was called by the PF. The investigations show that in addition to Brazil, the Trust Investing it acted in more than 80 countries during the time it operated, including Cuba, where it is already on a public alert list. Due to his expansion in Brazil, Patrick became a target of the Pharaoh of Bitcoins as a competitor, who according to PF data, he was one of the targets of the owner of GAS, now also arrested in Rio de Janeiro.
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Trust Investing comes to an end with the arrest of singer Perlla’s husband and five others
The PF launched the Operation La Casa de Papel against the leaders of Trust Investing this Wednesday, serving six preventive arrest warrants against Patrick Abrahão and 4 others.
Luxury items with bitcoin image were seized by the PF. PF disclosure. The agents fulfill 41 search and seizure warrants, issued by the 3rd Federal Court of Campo Grande (MS), in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás, Maranhão and Santa Catarina. The purpose of the action is to end the criminal organization responsible for implementing a transnational financial pyramid scheme in more than 80 countries, also committing crimes against the national financial system, evasion of foreign exchange, fraudulent misrepresentation, money laundering, usurpation of assets. crimes, environmental crime and embezzlement. The agents also carry out blocking warrants in the amount of 20 million dollars and kidnappings of money in bank accounts, very high standard real estate, cattle, vehicles, gold, jewelry, luxury items, emerald mine, speedboats and crypto assets in people’s possession. investigated, the PF informed in its communication.
PF seized gemstones from Trust Investing. PF disclosure.
Loss of BRL 4.1 billion in 1.3 million people
During Trust Investing’s performance, the company promised returns of 20% per month to its 1.3 million customers. With the withdrawal of withdrawals a few months ago, alleging maintenance in its system, the company was already considered “Not Recommended” after dozens of complaints on Reclame Aqui. In February 2022, several Trust Investing clients were complaining about withdrawal blocks, a situation that only got worse. The loss estimated by the PF is R$ 4.1 billion from 2019 to today.
Operation La Casa de Papel of the PF seized the banknotes of members of Trust Investing. PF disclosure.
Trust Investing shell companies
According to Federal Police intelligence on the case, Trust Investing worked with shell companies to pass legality to clients around the world, claiming to be based in Estonia, but it was all part of the scam. For investigators, the scheme has become more sophisticated over time, using not only the image of bitcoin, but also gemstones and other luxury items to convince customers of the high profitability promised. In prison, the husband of singer Perlla, Patrick Abrahão had 3 million followers on Instagram, where he showed a life of luxury. Now he must answer for the charges of various crimes, with his accomplices. Officially, Trust Investing has not yet commented on the arrest of the leaders in recent hours.
“La Casa de Papel”
According to the PF, the leaders face 41 years in prison if convicted of all the crimes they are accused of. The operation that ended Trust Investing has that name, “La Casa de Papel“, due to the fact that some of the investigated arrested also hold Spanish nationality and because they have artificially devised a plan to set up a billionaire financial pyramid, with their own bank and their own “mint”. That’s because, they had been making money through their own cryptocurrencies without any financial backing and appropriating tens of millions of dollars for their benefit, imposing losses on more than 1.3 million people in more than 80 countries.
