Danilo Gentili and Diogo Portugal awarded R$ 3.2 million in fraud case

A Brazilian Federal Court in São Paulo has ordered a couple, Robson Leiva Santos and Talita Bueno Fonzar Leiva, to pay approximately R$ 3.2 million to comedians Danilo Gentili and Diogo Portugal. The ruling follows a legal battle regarding a failed business venture in Orlando, Florida, known as The Comedy Club Corp.

The comedians invested significant capital—US$ 344,700 by Gentili and US$ 176,000 by Portugal—to establish a comedy club dedicated to Brazilian performers. However, they discovered that much of the funds had been misappropriated despite minimal progress on the project. The case involved allegations of fraud, misappropriation of funds, and breach of management duties.

The original judgment from Florida courts was ratified by Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ), allowing for its enforcement within Brazil. The total amount owed, including interest according to Florida law, is expected to exceed R$ 4.3 million.