Two Young Men Sentenced for Armed Drug Theft in Toulon
One perpetrator received a ten-year sentence for involvement in a violent ambush targeting a drug dealer.
On May 30, 2025, the Toulon Criminal Court sentenced two young men to prison terms of six and ten years for their roles in a violent ambush that occurred on November 14, 2022, in a residential area of Toulon.
The incident targeted a drug dealer who was shot at while sitting in his vehicle, resulting in eighteen bullet impacts, although the victim sustained only a minor injury to his bicep.
A bag containing an undisclosed quantity of drugs was stolen from the car's trunk during the attack.
The Court established that a group of six individuals, including the two sentenced, participated in the meticulously planned attack in La Baume, a neighborhood known for drug activities.
During the course of the ambush, one of the suspects dropped his mobile phone at the scene, which linked him and another accomplice to the incident.
Lenny J., who was 19 at the time of the attack, testified that he had set up a meeting with the drug dealer but denied any significant involvement in the violence, claiming he only acted as bait and had not been informed about the presence of guns.
Nonetheless, the judicial investigation revealed that he had aspirations to establish a drug distribution point in Briançon and had made threatening comments, captured by wiretaps, against competitors in the drug trade.
His defense attorney argued that Lenny's behavior stemmed from a misguided desire for a criminal persona.
In addition to the six-year prison sentence, he received a ten thousand euro fine and was banned from the Var region.
Kilian C., who was also 19 in 2022 and had a prior criminal record, did not provide a defense during the trial.
He had initially claimed that he only intended to shoot the vehicle's tires during the ambush.
His lawyer described Kilian as a troubled youth with a history of severe obesity and familial neglect, indicating that he sought validation through delinquent behavior.
Kilian faces additional investigation regarding a murder that took place in Hyères in July 2023. Prosecutors described him as particularly dangerous, leading to a sentence of ten years in prison, reduced from an initial request of twelve years.
The incident targeted a drug dealer who was shot at while sitting in his vehicle, resulting in eighteen bullet impacts, although the victim sustained only a minor injury to his bicep.
A bag containing an undisclosed quantity of drugs was stolen from the car's trunk during the attack.
The Court established that a group of six individuals, including the two sentenced, participated in the meticulously planned attack in La Baume, a neighborhood known for drug activities.
During the course of the ambush, one of the suspects dropped his mobile phone at the scene, which linked him and another accomplice to the incident.
Lenny J., who was 19 at the time of the attack, testified that he had set up a meeting with the drug dealer but denied any significant involvement in the violence, claiming he only acted as bait and had not been informed about the presence of guns.
Nonetheless, the judicial investigation revealed that he had aspirations to establish a drug distribution point in Briançon and had made threatening comments, captured by wiretaps, against competitors in the drug trade.
His defense attorney argued that Lenny's behavior stemmed from a misguided desire for a criminal persona.
In addition to the six-year prison sentence, he received a ten thousand euro fine and was banned from the Var region.
Kilian C., who was also 19 in 2022 and had a prior criminal record, did not provide a defense during the trial.
He had initially claimed that he only intended to shoot the vehicle's tires during the ambush.
His lawyer described Kilian as a troubled youth with a history of severe obesity and familial neglect, indicating that he sought validation through delinquent behavior.
Kilian faces additional investigation regarding a murder that took place in Hyères in July 2023. Prosecutors described him as particularly dangerous, leading to a sentence of ten years in prison, reduced from an initial request of twelve years.
