Influencer was arrested in Operation Vérnix, which investigates PCC money laundering; defense denies
Lawyer and influencer Deolane Bezerra dos Santos refused to provide the passwords for 2 cell phones seized by the police after being involved in operation Vérnix, which began on Thursday (May 21, 2026). The action investigates a possible money laundering scheme linked to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital).
According to the , when the police asked for access to the devices, the influencer chose not to provide the information. The 2 devices were collected during searches at her home, in the Tamboré condominium, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo.
Delegate Edmar Rogério Dias Caparroz, from the Presidente Venceslau Sectional Police Station, said that the influencer’s refusal to give up her cell phone passwords will not prevent the Civil Police from reaching data and dialogues that are of interest to the investigation. Investigators have a technique for extracting information stored on devices.
According to investigators, Deolane received R$1 million in fractional deposits below R$10,000 from 2018 to 2021. Almost 50 deposits destined for two of the influencer’s companies were also identified, totaling R$716,000.
In , held on Thursday (May 21), Deolane stated that she was arrested “in the exercise of the profession”. The general delegate of the Civil Police, Artur Dian, stated, this Friday (May 22), that the investigation identified other transfers with no proven relationship with legal services.
Watch Deolane Bezerra’s custody hearing (5min59s):
In a note, Deolane’s defense that she has “absolute innocence” on accusations of links with the PCC.
Deolane Bezerra was to the Tupi Paulista Women’s Penitentiary, in the interior of São Paulo. She was imprisoned in the Santana Women’s Penitentiary, in the north of São Paulo.
OPERATION VERNIX
Operation Vérnix, which arrested the influencer on Thursday (May 21), investigates the use of a cargo transport company based in Presidente Venceslau (SP) as a front company. According to the investigation, the structure would have been used to move money from the PCC leadership and transfer amounts to Marcola’s family and third parties.
The investigation began in 2019, after the seizure of notes and manuscripts from 2 prisoners at Penitentiary 2 of Presidente Venceslau. The material cited internal orders from the faction, contacts with high-ranking members and mentions of violent actions against public servants.
One of the excerpts mentioned a “carrier woman”which would have collected addresses of public agents. From there, investigators began to investigate the cargo company’s relationship with the PCC.
According to the investigation, the notes did not mention the name of the influencer, but they were the starting point for the investigations to show that Deolane possibly received funds from a transport company created by the faction.
