Brazil Influencer Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years for Running Illegal Raffles

A Brazilian social media influencer has been sentenced to 9 years and 8 months in prison after being found guilty of operating an illicit raffle business that collected funds without authorisation.

Brazil’s Federal Justice system confirmed that influencer Klebim Ferreti was convicted of organising unauthorised raffles and prize giveaways which generated large sums of money outside the regulated lottery framework. The court found that Ferreti’s scheme lacked registration with the relevant authorities and violated Brazil’s lottery laws.

According to the ruling, Ferreti’s business model involved collecting ticket fees from participants, promoting the draws on social media and delivering prizes — all without oversight or revenue reporting. The judge ordered the forfeiture of assets and imposed the prison sentence as a deterrent against similar unlicensed operations.

Legal experts say the case underscores growing enforcement efforts in Brazil’s gambling and prize-distribution sector, where influencers and digital campaigns have sometimes blurred the line between marketing and illegal lotteries. The decision signals that unlicensed raffles promoted online can carry criminal liability comparable to gambling offences.

The verdict also adds pressure on Brazil’s regulators to clarify the distinction between licensed lotteries, sweepstakes, raffles and informal prize offers, especially in the digital environment. Operators and promoters now face heightened risk of prosecution if they fail to comply with licensing and tax-reporting obligations.