The Bitcoin Pharaoh’s Wife Mirelis Dias Zerpawas arrested in Chicago, in the United States, during an operation by the Brazilian Federal Police in collaboration with the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Secret Service.
The arrest took place after two years of intensive search and international cooperation. Mirelis, considered a fugitive from Operation Kryptos, was wanted for crimes committed against the National Financial System, money laundering and integration of a criminal organization.
The charges are part of the case in which GAS Consultoria, owned by Glaidson dos Santos (nicknamed the Pharaoh of Bitcoins), operated a financial pyramid scheme and generated billions in illegal activities.
According to the newspaper The globe, Mirelis maintained an active presence on social media, posting motivational texts and a selfie in Times Square. The messages, which were put in a new light after his arrest, add a layer of irony to the case.
Gas advice
Before Mirelis and Glaidson became central figures in one of Brazil’s biggest financial scandals, they had modest life stories. Glaidson, a former waiter in Búzios, saw an opportunity in the emerging world of cryptocurrencies and founded GAS Consultoria Bitcoin.
The company promised a monthly return on investment of 10% and quickly attracted a customer base eager to make a quick profit. What seemed to be a story of success and wealth turned into a nightmare for many when investigations revealed a financial pyramid scheme.
Operation Kryptos, launched to investigate the activities of GAS Consultoria, discovered that Glaidson and Mirelis, under the facade of investing in cryptocurrencies, were running one of the largest Bitcoin scams in the country.
It is estimated that the couple moved about R$38 billion between 2015 and 2021, an astronomical amount that shocked the authorities, as the pharaoh does not even know how to talk and says “poor” several times in some interviews.
Mirelis, through his Cabo Frio consulting firm, was a key player in the scheme, signing service contracts for bitcoin investments without proper authorization or registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Wife of ‘bitcoin pharaoh’ posted motivational text before being arrested
As the investigations unfolded, Mirelis maintained an active presence on social media. With posts ranging from selfies in Times Square to motivational texts, she projected an image of success and unwavering confidence.
The day before her arrest, Mirelis reflected on the quality of life and the importance of following your own path, an irony given the events that were to follow.
The messages, which included a selfie with the George M. Cohan monument in the background, appeared to question her fugitive status and exacerbate the curiosity and mystery surrounding her true situation.
Source: Live Coins
Barry Siefert is an accomplished journalist and author at The Nation View. He is known for his expertise in the field of cryptocurrency, and has written extensively on the topic. With a background in finance and economics, Barry has a deep understanding of the underlying technology and market forces that drive the crypto industry.
