Milan prosecutors on Tuesday requested a prison sentence of one year and eight months for influencer and entrepreneur Chiara Ferragni. The case links to the sale of charity-themed Christmas cakes and Easter eggs. She faces charges of aggravated fraud.
Ferragni, 38, is accused of profiting from charity promotions involving a “designer” pandoro made by Balocco and chocolate Easter eggs produced by Dolci Preziosi. She denies all wrongdoing. Speaking outside the court, she said she had always acted in good faith and was confident she would clear her name.
The defence will deliver its closing arguments on 19 December in the fast-track, closed-door hearing. A verdict is expected in January. Aggravated fraud in Italy carries a prison sentence of one to five years.
Prosecutors allege that Ferragni misled consumers by suggesting that the purchase of a €9 pink pandoro would directly support medical equipment for a children’s hospital in Turin. The price was more than double that of a standard Balocco cake.
Already fined over €1million by antitrust authority
Italy’s antitrust authority fined Ferragni over €1 million in December 2023 for unfair commercial practices related to the pandoro. It also fined Balocco €420,000 after finding that the company had made a €50,000 donation to the hospital months before the product went on sale. The authority said two Ferragni-controlled companies received promotional fees of about €1 million, none of which went to the hospital.
Ferragni later released an emotional video, calling the case a communication error. She also said the mistake was made in good faith. She donated €1 million to Turin’s Regina Margherita children’s hospital and pledged to separate business from charity in future campaigns.
A second case concerns Ferragni-branded Easter eggs sold in support of I Bambini delle Fate, an organisation that assists children with autism. Authorities say Chiara Ferragni earned far more from the promotion than the amount donated to the association. After reaching an agreement with regulators, she paid the group €1.2 million.
