The 66-year-old Francesca Juliett Kappello came under public scrutiny after revealing questionable methods of making money in the TV 2 documentary ‘The Black Swan’ (‘Den sorte svane’). In the documentary, Kappello discussed plans to exploit projects for individuals with autism during a conversation with TV 2’s undercover journalist Amira Smajic, which was captured on hidden camera. This exposure made Kappello a household name in an unfortunate sense. She inquired optimistically about the potential to acquire 300,000 Danish kroner (approximately $43,000) per autistic person through money laundering, which sparked significant public outrage.
B.T., a Danish tabloid newspaper, has now revealed that Francesca Juliett Kappello has been found guilty of financial crime by the Frederiksberg District Court (Retten på Frederiksberg). The ruling includes a substantial fine of 475,000 kroner (around $68,000) as well as an eight-month suspended prison sentence, contingent upon a two-year probation period and 150 hours of unpaid community service. Kappello and two accomplices were convicted for providing misleading information to the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen) regarding aid packages during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The case revolved around their consulting firm, which applied for compensation on behalf of a café in Vanløse, a district in Copenhagen. The applications resulted in illegitimate payments totaling 125,000 kroner after it was revealed that the café had been closed since a fire that occurred at the turn of the year.
During the court proceedings, Kappello and her co-defendants denied any wrongdoing. Kappello explained that she had previously lied to the police due to a nervous breakdown during her arrest. Despite her attempts to clarify her actions in court, she was found guilty along with the other defendants, who received the same sentence.
The stringent sentencing was influenced by the fact that the crimes were committed during the unique circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, which doubled the penalties for providing false information to obtain grants. The additional fine was also increased due to the extraordinary social emergency during the time of financial assistance.
In addition to this case, B.T. has previously reported that Francesca Juliett Kappello has a history of controversial professional experiences. She has served as the director of 22 different companies, all of which went bankrupt, further casting a shadow over her business career.