Eight of 10 charged in Kim Kardashian Paris jewelry heist convicted

Eight elderly French individuals, dubbed the “grandpa robbers,” have been found guilty of the 2016 kidnapping and robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris. A panel of judges and jurors in a Paris courtroom delivered guilty verdicts to seven men and one woman, sentencing them to three to eight years in prison for their roles in the elaborate heist. The robbery involved restraining the influencer with zip ties and stealing $9 million worth of jewelry, including a diamond engagement ring from her then-husband Kanye West.

One defendant was convicted of a gun charge but not involvement in the robbery, while another was acquitted entirely. The majority of the sentences were suspended, despite the severity of the crime. The defendants, mostly in their late 50s and 60s at the time of their arrest, were known in France as the “grandpa robbers.” After years of legal delays, most of the culprits are now in their late 60s and 70s, battling illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Kim Kardashian, who testified during the trial, recounted the terrifying experience of being bound and threatened with a gun during the robbery. Despite the traumatic ordeal, she managed to free herself and hide with a friend until the robbers fled. The alleged mastermind of the operation, Aomar Aït Khedache, communicated with the court through written notes due to his hearing impairment. Khedache, a seasoned criminal in Paris, was linked to the crime through DNA evidence found on the zip ties used to restrain Kardashian.

The loot from the robbery was never recovered, as Khedache and his accomplices reportedly planned to sell the stolen diamonds in Belgium. In a last-ditch effort to deflect blame, Khedache pointed fingers at a non-existent figure named “X” or “Ben.” Despite expressing remorse in their final statements, the defendants received relatively lenient sentences due to their advanced age and declining health.

Presiding judge David De Pas acknowledged the harm caused by the robbers, emphasizing that even in old age, they must be held accountable for their actions. The trial marked the end of a long legal battle that shed light on the audacious robbery that shook both Kardashian and the public in 2016.