In a dramatic climax to a scandal that has rocked French politics, Gaël Perdriau, the long-serving mayor of Saint-Étienne, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, to five years in jail—one of those suspended—after being found guilty of blackmail, criminal conspiracy, and misuse of public funds. The verdict, delivered by a court in Lyon after less than twenty minutes of deliberation, also imposed a five-year ban from holding public office, effective immediately, and an order for Perdriau’s immediate committal to prison.
The case centers on a sordid plot that saw Perdriau and three close associates orchestrate the secret filming of his former deputy, Gilles Artigues, a conservative Catholic and outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, with a male sex worker. The video, shot in a Paris hotel room on January 5, 2015, became a tool of blackmail, leveraged to ensure Artigues’s loyalty and silence at city hall. According to RFI, prosecutors argued that Perdriau commissioned the operation and held the threat of exposure over Artigues’s head for years, describing the mayor as “the decision-maker” and “the one with his finger on the nuclear button.”
Presiding judge Brigitte Vernay left no doubt about the gravity of the case, declaring Perdriau “entirely guilty” and emphasizing the “extreme seriousness of the acts before it: the plot, the video, the blackmail…” She added, “Nor did [the court] ignore the fact that some of you held elected office, that precious role of elected office, which imposes a duty of good conduct, dignity and image.” Addressing Perdriau directly, she concluded, “Sir, you can no longer be mayor of Saint-Étienne.” (Mediapart)
For more than three years, Perdriau had denied any involvement, insisting throughout the trial that he was innocent. However, the evidence proved overwhelming. In 2017, Artigues secretly recorded a conversation in which Perdriau threatened to release a “USB stick” containing compromising images if Artigues ever broke ranks. The former deputy testified that the blackmail left him paralyzed during city hall meetings, stating, “I was like a puppet. They put me there, and I smiled.” He also revealed that the ordeal brought him to the brink of suicide. Upon hearing the verdict, Artigues, surrounded by family, said, “Today, I think I will be able to rebuild my life.”
The court also handed down prison sentences to the three main co-defendants, all of whom had, to varying degrees, admitted their roles in the plot. Gilles Rossary-Lenglet, who described himself as a “secret agent” by profession, was sentenced to four years in prison, with one suspended. He organized the trap in exchange for 40,000 euros in public funds and a handful of perks. Rossary-Lenglet, who has remained jobless and reclusive since the scandal broke, told Mediapart, “I've always said I'm not a good man. The law has done its job and has reminded everyone that these were very serious acts.” He further criticized Artigues for his role in the ‘Manif pour tous’ protests against same-sex marriage, adding, “I had nothing left to lose. I wanted to make everyone face up to their responsibilities. Elected officials must understand that when they vote for harsher laws, they apply to them too.”
Samy Kéfi-Jérôme, a former assistant mayor and vice-president of the region, received a similar sentence. He lured Artigues into the hotel room under the pretense of a massage, with a hidden camera capturing the encounter. A year and a half later, Kéfi-Jérôme showed the tape to Artigues, referring to it as a “leash” and a “political insurance policy.” Once considered a respected figure in education and local politics, Kéfi-Jérôme resigned from his posts and left Saint-Étienne after the scandal erupted. He later expressed regret and identified Perdriau as the mastermind behind the operation.
Pierre Gauttieri, Perdriau’s former chief of staff and a political heavyweight at city hall, was sentenced to four years in jail, two suspended. Gauttieri’s involvement was particularly chilling; in a 2017 meeting secretly recorded by Artigues, Gauttieri threatened, “If me going to the slammer brings you down because you pass for a washed-up old poof, I don't have a problem with that.” In another 2018 recording, he menaced Artigues by vowing to distribute the tape to parents at his children’s schools, saying, “I don't think your children will get over it,” and describing himself as “without scruples.” Gauttieri eventually admitted his role, expressing a desire not to be the mayor’s “fall guy.” The Artigues family ultimately “forgave” him, with the assistant prosecutor noting Gauttieri’s “journey” during the case.
The four leaders of associations through which the public funds were funneled were acquitted, with the court finding they were unaware of the money’s final destination. The scale of the damages awarded underscores the seriousness of the affair. Artigues was granted 200,000 euros, his wife 30,000 euros, and each of their four children 20,000 euros. Former mayor Michel Thiollière, who was also targeted in a failed kompromat scheme, received 10,000 euros. The anti-corruption group Anticor was awarded 5,000 euros, the city of Saint-Étienne 40,000 euros, and 184,000 euros were allocated to cover municipal legal assistance for Artigues.
Perdriau’s conviction brings an abrupt end to a career that saw him campaign on the slogan “Let’s bring about the future.” He must relinquish not only the mayoralty but also his post as president of the Saint-Étienne metropolitan authority, a position he had only “stepped back” from under pressure. Despite his lawyers’ immediate declaration of intent to appeal, the committal order means Perdriau will soon begin serving his sentence, regardless of any further legal wrangling.
The case has sent shockwaves through French political circles, not only for its salacious details but also for its exposure of the abuse of power at the highest levels of local government. The speed and decisiveness of the court’s ruling—delivered in less than half an hour—left little room for ambiguity. As the courtroom emptied, a few spectators applauded, while the judge’s stern “Not a word!” maintained a sense of gravity over the proceedings.
At its heart, the trial of Gaël Perdriau and his accomplices is a sobering reminder of the responsibilities that come with public office and the devastating consequences when those in power put personal ambition ahead of ethics and the law. For Saint-Étienne, the hope is that justice, though delayed, will help restore faith in the integrity of its institutions.