French influencer Amine Mojito, whose real name is Ilan M., has been sentenced by a Paris court to one year in prison following public outrage over his viral syringe prank videos.
The 27-year-old content creator was convicted on Friday for “violence with a weapon not resulting in work incapacity.” He will serve six months in custody, with the remaining six suspended, and has been fined €1,500. Mojito has also been prohibited from carrying or possessing a firearm for three years.
The ruling follows widespread fear caused by videos in which Mojito appeared to inject bystanders with empty syringes on the streets of Paris. The posts, which circulated just before France’s annual Fête de la Musique in June, alarmed the public amid existing concerns about reports of needle attacks at festivals and student parties.
Prosecutors described Mojito as a “public menace,” arguing that the stunts exploited public anxiety and risked serious psychological harm. Victims testified to experiencing panic, with one describing the ordeal as “a nightmare” in the context of ongoing public health fears.
During his defence, Mojito told the court, “I had had the very bad idea of performing these tricks doing mimicry of what I had seen on the internet, in Spain [and] in Portugal. I didn’t think it could hurt people. That was my mistake, I didn’t think of others, I thought of myself.” He added that the videos were intended to revive his online career and promote a fitness project.
Mojito’s history of alleged harassment and assault also emerged during proceedings, leading prosecutors to call him a repeat offender. His lawyer, Marie Claret de Fleurieu, said the verdict restored “reasonable proportions” to the case after intense media scrutiny.
