A Paris court on Friday sentenced 17 individuals, including a former intelligence officer and a former journalist, following a protracted trial exposing a network of violence and criminal activity linked to a Masonic lodge in the Paris suburb of Puteaux. The trial, which spanned more than three months, involved 22 defendants accused of crimes ranging from murder and attempted murder to industrial espionage and criminal conspiracy.
At the center of the case was Daniel Beaulieu, a 72-year-old ex-spy and former member of the Athanor Masonic Lodge, who was handed a 30-year prison term, the longest sentence among those convicted. Beaulieu, now wheelchair-bound after a suicide attempt, admitted to most of the charges but denied involvement in the murder of Laurent Pasquali, a former Le Mans 24-hour race driver whose remains were found in a forest in 2019. Despite that discovery, the circumstances surrounding Pasquali’s death remained unclear throughout the proceedings. Notably, the individual accused of killing Pasquali was acquitted, as were a married couple charged with masterminding the killing to recover a debt from Pasquali.
Prosecutors presented evidence indicating that Beaulieu used psychological manipulation techniques, including elements of magic and mind control, to deceive a hired assassin into believing he was acting on behalf of the state rather than carrying out private criminal contracts. The trial revealed a web of illicit activities orchestrated by a mafia faction operating within the lodge.
Among those convicted was Frederic Vaglio, 55, a former journalist and ex-mason, who received a 25-year prison sentence. Additionally, Sébastien Leroy, a 36-year-old former security guard who functioned as a hitman for the group, was sentenced to 27 years in prison, exceeding the prosecution’s recommendation by five years. Sentences for the other convicted individuals ranged from six-month suspended terms to lengthy jail time.
The convictions bring to light the extent of corruption and violence embedded in a secretive network operating under the guise of a fraternal organization. The trial exposed how this group allegedly engaged in intimidation, assaults, and elimination of rivals to enforce debts and protect criminal interests, attracting significant public and judicial attention in France.