The facts:

Seven young individuals, including six men and one woman, are suspected of aggravated pimping of four teenage girls aged between 13 and 15, all of whom were in the care of the Child Welfare Services (ASE) and in a highly vulnerable situation. 

The case began in March 2022 following an anonymous tip-off identifying a 20-year-old man as a pimp operating in hotels in Cergy (Val-d’Oise). 

The investigation reportedly uncovered a structured network of prostitution involving minors: telephone wiretaps, bank analyses and several witness statements confirm the existence of paid sexual encounters, which were allegedly organised by members of the network. 

The investigations identified seven suspects who are believed to be involved at various levels in this pimping network.

Trial from 15 to 26 September 2025

The trial will open on Monday 15 September 2025 before the Pontoise Juvenile Court and is expected to be held behind closed doors. 

Innocence in Danger joins the case

Innocence in Danger has joined the case as a civil party.

Represented by Maître Caty Richard, the association intends to alert public opinion to the resurgence of prostitution of minors in France by very young adults and even minors.

This trial also raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of the institutions supposed to protect these minors.

Verdict

The main defendant was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.

Six other defendants, four of whom were minors at the time of the offences between 2020 and 2022, received sentences ranging from two years' suspended imprisonment to five years, four of which were suspended.

For Caty Richard, lawyer for the fourth victim and civil party for Innocence en Danger, ‘it is time that pimps of all kinds feared the judicial system more than they are motivated by greed.’ 

Articles on the case:

LeProgres.fr:  article dated 27 September 2025

BFMTV.COM: article dated 14 September 2025