French influencer Amine Mojito, known online for his provocative prank videos, has been sentenced to six months in prison for posting a series of clips showing him pretending to inject strangers with syringes on the streets of Paris.
The Paris Criminal Court handed down a 12-month sentence, with six months suspended, a €1,500 fine, and a three-year ban on carrying weapons. The ruling marks France’s first legal action against “prank culture.”
Mojito — whose real name is Ilan Magneron — gained millions of views on TikTok and Instagram by filming himself approaching unsuspecting pedestrians near landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, holding capped, empty syringes, and pretending to jab them in the arm or neck before laughing and running away.
During his trial, the 27-year-old admitted that the videos were “a very bad idea,” saying he had imitated similar social media stunts seen in Spain and Portugal. Despite the syringes being empty, the court convicted him of “violence with a weapon not resulting in work incapacity.”
The case gained national attention earlier this year after Mojito’s videos went viral just days before Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) in June — a period when France was already anxious about reports of alleged syringe attacks at festivals and student events.
Prosecutors argued that Mojito’s timing was “reckless” and that his actions amplified public panic during what they described as a national scare. The court agreed, noting that while no one was physically harmed, the psychological impact on victims was genuine.
In June 2025, France experienced a wave of reports of random syringe attacks during music festivals, with over 140 people claiming to have been pricked. However, toxicology tests later revealed no traces of drugs, and experts later described the phenomenon as a “social panic amplified by social media.
Appearing remorseful, Mojito told the court that he had not foreseen the consequences of his videos.
“I had the very bad idea of performing these tricks,” he said, according to Libération. “I didn’t think it could hurt people. That was my mistake — I thought of myself, not of others.”
He explained that the stunts were part of an attempt to revive his online career and promote a new fitness program after “a brief period of being an influencer in teen life.”
The court also reviewed Mojito’s prior convictions for assault and harassment, which influenced the sentence’s severity. Prosecutors used his social media content as evidence, illustrating how digital fame can easily become self-incrimination.
His defense attorney, Marie Claret de Fleurieu, criticized the heavy-handed prosecution, saying the final ruling “restores proportion after the initial media frenzy” and “re-establishes equilibrium between public order and [her] client’s constitutional rights.”
The Mojito case has reignited debate over social media accountability and the responsibility of influencers. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram prohibit dangerous pranks, enforcement has often been inconsistent.
A recent study found that about 15% of videos recommended to 13-year-olds on YouTube were classified as harmful, underscoring the risks of algorithm-driven engagement that rewards shock value.
Legal experts say the Mojito case establishes an important precedent in France: creators can be held criminally liable for real-world fear or harm caused by online content.
“This ruling sends a clear message,” said one Paris-based lawyer. “Social media fame doesn’t place anyone above the law.”
Mojito reportedly spent nearly two months in pre-trial detention at Fleury-Mérogis Prison — one of Europe’s most extensive correctional facilities — where he was allegedly held in solitary confinement.
His fall from viral fame now stands as a cautionary tale for the influencer generation, demonstrating that the pursuit of online attention can have serious legal consequences when content crosses the line from humor to harm.
