Verhagen is a Dutch citizen. He has a daughter in Denmark, but the mother has custody of the child.[8]
Danish police have charged Verhagen with rape, robbery, forgery, fraud and fleeing from the police, after his arrival in Viborg FF in November 2019.[9] Since 27 November 2019, Verhagen has been remanded in custody – only interrupted by a 12-hour period as a fugitive after he managed to escape from police.[10] On 24 June 2020, Verhagen was convicted of robbery and battery, but acquitted of rape, and was sentenced to one year and three months in prison and criminal deportation from Denmark.[10] On 18 August 2020, he pleaded guilty to fraud and forgery.[7][11]
Verhagen arrived at the city of Santa Marta, Colombia on 11 June 2021.[12][13] According to police authorities, he introduced himself as a professional player for major football clubs in Europe, showing pictures where he appeared signing contracts, and with team members and wearing their jerseys. Apparently, he spent the next few nights at various luxurious hotels in the city, rented yachts, and dined in exclusive restaurants without paying for any of it, taking advantage of the owners' willingness to receive his supposed endorsement. According to the police chief of the city, Verhagen made reservations via electronic platforms and promised electronic payment due to his lack of cash. He showed electronic bills to demonstrate his payments, and when they appeared as pending he argued that they were delayed due to the fact that they were international transfers. After enjoying the services he cancelled the transactions and left.
Verhagen was finally arrested in the beach of El Rodadero on 14 June 2021,[12] when he attempted to con a number of sexual workers whom he had hired.[13][12] The women demanded he paid in cash and when he refused the women called on people to help them stop him. Verhagen was about to be lynched when the police arrived. The police arrested him after doing a background check and discovering that he was a conman, attempting similar strategies in other countries.[12][13] The Kingdom of the Netherlands requested Verhagen in extradition in August 2021.[14]
In December 2023, a Dutch court in Breda sentenced Verhagen to nine years in prison for two home robberies and an attempted robbery in Lieshout and Tilburg between late 2020 and early 2021. Victims were threatened with weapons, robbed of valuables, and, in one case, held captive for eight hours. The court rejected Bernio's discredited alibis and attempts to blame accomplices, citing the severity of the crimes and his prior record of violent offenses.[1][15]