Louise Bernard with AFP
On Snapchat, the young man known under the pseudonym “PA7” encouraged his subscribers to set up fake businesses to receive state aid. Justice estimates that he contributed to the embezzlement of 7.6 million euros of public funds.
On social media, the influencer mounted a massive Covid aid scam. Nicknamed “PA7”, Paul Anthony admitted to having set up a “business” at the time of the health crisis. He would have completed falsified forms, on behalf of auto-entrepreneurs or self-employed, for the business solidarity fund set up in March 2020. He was sentenced on Wednesday July 6 to seven years in prison and 80,000 euros fine.
Snapchat flyers and videos
The 24-year-old organized, via social networks, an aid fraud intended for companies affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also hit with a five-year ban on leaving the territory, Paul Antony acted through flyers and videos on Snapchat. Many attempts failed but others worked: on the public money paid, he then took a commission.
700 fraudulent claims for 33.8 million euros claimed
The defendant disputed the amounts resulting from the investigations, claiming to have actually received a much lower sum. However, the court estimated that he was linked to nearly 700 fraudulent claims, for 33.8 million euros claimed and 7.5 million actually paid between March 2020 and July 2021.