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Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni appeared in a Milan courtroom today as prosecutors formally requested a 20-month jail sentence over aggravated fraud allegations linked to a 2022 charity-branded Pandoro cake campaign. The case now moves toward a December defense hearing, with a verdict expected in January, marking one of the most high-profile influencer fraud prosecutions in Italy.
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Chiara Ferragni in Court on Nov. 4.
For the second time this month, the atmosphere outside Milan’s Palace of Justice shifted the moment Chiara Ferragni stepped through its doors — photographers pushing forward, reporters shouting questions, and the 38-year-old influencer maintaining a fixed, carefully neutral expression. Inside the courtroom today, prosecutors escalated the stakes: they asked the judge to impose a 20-month prison sentence over what they allege was an aggravated fraud scheme tied to Ferragni’s 2022 collaboration to sell Balocco-branded Pandoro Christmas cakes.
According to prosecutors, the promotion conveyed the impression that each purchase supported Turin’s Regina Margherita Hospital — when in fact, only a single €50,000 donation was ever made by the manufacturer. The issue now sits at the center of a national conversation about influencer responsibility, misleading advertising, and public trust.
The moment matters: Ferragni is one of Italy’s most influential public figures, and the case marks a rare instance of a top-tier digital creator facing potential jail time. The defense is scheduled to present arguments on December 19, with a verdict expected early in the new year.
Ferragni is facing aggravated fraud charges stemming from her role in a 2022 holiday campaign that marketed limited-edition Pandoro cakes featuring her name and branding. The boxes promoted support for the Regina Margherita children’s hospital, but authorities later determined that consumers were not told that Balocco had already made a one-off donation.
Italy’s Competition Authority fined Ferragni €1 million in 2023 for misleading commercial messaging, prompting her to donate her €1 million fee to the hospital. By the end of 2024, she had paid a total of €3.4 million to settle related regulatory investigations and charity-linked compliance cases.
Prosecutors today reiterated their request for a one-year and eight-month sentence. Ferragni, leaving the courthouse, maintained she acted in “good faith,” while her lawyer said her “innocence will come to light.”
Ferragni’s case is rooted in aggravated commercial fraud, a criminal offense under Italian law that applies when consumers are misled in a way that influences purchasing decisions. Courts typically look at whether the message would cause a reasonable consumer to believe a product benefits a charitable cause.
Evidence in cases like this normally includes advertising materials, social media posts, company contracts, and internal communications. Prosecutors must show that the messaging was misleading and that Ferragni played a significant role in shaping or approving it.
The next procedural step is the December 19 defense hearing, followed by judicial deliberation. Penalties for aggravated fraud can include fines, restitution orders, and in more serious cases, custodial sentences — though jail time is not automatic and often depends on intent, prior conduct, and cooperation.
Yes — prosecutors are explicitly requesting 20 months. Whether she serves time depends on the judge’s final ruling, mitigation factors, and whether any sentence may be suspended under Italian law.
Ferragni is facing aggravated fraud, linked to advertising claims around the 2022 Pandoro cake campaign and its alleged charitable implications.
The case relies heavily on the campaign’s packaging, public messaging, and regulator findings that consumers were misled. The defense argues the issue was a communication error, not fraud.
Dismissals are rare at this stage. The judge will hear the defense arguments on December 19 before deciding whether the evidence meets the legal threshold.
A verdict is expected in January, making this a relatively quick proceeding compared to typical fraud cases.
The case highlights how charity-linked marketing is treated under consumer protection law. When a company claims a purchase supports a charitable cause, regulators expect full transparency: how much money is donated, who donates it, and whether it depends on sales.
The prosecution also illustrates why influencer promotions carry legal responsibility. If a creator’s name or image is tied to a product suggesting a charitable purpose, authorities may treat misleading claims as a serious matter — regardless of whether the influencer handled the finances.
This case is a reminder that in advertising, clarity is not optional.
Best-case scenario:
The court finds insufficient evidence of intent, leading to acquittal or a reduced penalty such as a fine without custodial time.
Worst-case scenario:
Ferragni receives a custodial sentence close to the 20 months requested, though first-time offenders often see reductions or suspended terms.
Most common outcome in similar cases:
Financial penalties, compliance measures, and suspended sentences are typically more common than prison time in consumer-fraud cases involving charitable messaging.
She received a €1 million fee, which she later donated to the hospital after the regulatory investigation.
They ruled that the marketing implied that each purchase supported the hospital, when the donation had already been made independently of sales.
Regulatory actions have involved both the company and Ferragni, but the current criminal case is specifically focused on Ferragni’s alleged role.
Ferragni’s fraud case now sits at a sensitive moment. Prosecutors have made their position clear with a 20-month jail request, and the defense will answer on December 19. The evidence centers on whether the Pandoro campaign misled consumers about charitable support — a growing legal issue in influencer marketing. As Italy continues to tighten scrutiny on commercial messaging, the outcome of this case will likely influence how creators and brands structure charity collaborations in the future.
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