Bernard Squarcini was found guilty of organizing a bizarre illegal surveillance operation on a gadfly journalist at the request of the luxury company, among other offenses.

Bernard Squarcini, the former head of France's domestic intelligence services, was convicted on March 7, 2025, for using public resources to assist LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) in a series of illegal activities, including surveillance on a French journalist.

A Paris court found the former head of France's domestic security services, Bernard Squarcini, guilty on Friday of using public resources to benefit LVMH, in a trial that shed light on efforts by the world's biggest luxury group to protect its reputation.

France’s former top intelligence official, Bernard Squarcini, was found guilty of illegally taking advantage of his networks to serve private interests, including those of luxury giant LVMH’s head Bernard Arnault.

Squarcini, who was accused of influence peddling, including obtaining confidential information for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has been handed a four-year sentence, including two years suspended,