A clan leader known as Roberto Hamidovic, 48, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and a €500,000 fine for orchestrating a network of child pickpockets in Paris and other European cities. The court heard that he operated a criminal organization reminiscent of Fagin, the infamous criminal boss in Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist, using mainly young girls, some as young as 10, to steal from tourists at places like the Paris Métro and Disneyland Paris. These children reportedly earned the group an average of €25,000 per day. If they failed to steal enough, they were subjected to beatings, burns, or sexual abuse, according to the trial. Meanwhile, Hamidovic and his adult family members lived comfortably, enjoying designer clothes, luxury hotels, and expensive cars, while the children were housed in budget hotels or run-down shelters. Seven members of the Hamidovic family—four men and three women—were on trial for crimes including human trafficking, organized theft, corruption of minors, and money laundering. They denied the charges, but detectives said the network spanned multiple European countries and had operated for decades. The court sentenced Hamidovic to the maximum allowable prison term, while his wife, Lejla, received six years in prison and a €300,000 fine. Two of their sons, a nephew, and two female relatives received between five and seven years in prison and fines. All will be extradited and banned from entering France after their release. This case is not new for French authorities. In 2010, Hamidovic’s uncle, Fehmi, was arrested along with his sons and other clan members in France and Italy for human trafficking. At the time, police described the clan as operating like a “medieval” structure. After Fehmi was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2013, his nephew Roberto took over the organization, which is believed to be responsible for up to 75% of thefts in the Paris Métro. However, in court, Hamidovic claimed he was a secondhand car dealer earning only between €2,000 and €5,000 per month. The public prosecutor, Alice Guillet, argued that the family used minors to avoid legal consequences, as the children were instructed to claim they were under 12, below the age of criminal responsibility in France. The children used as pickpockets were described as living in extreme hardship, often without knowing their birth dates or having a stable future. Some were sent to high-traffic areas like Disneyland Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport, where they would blend in with crowds and steal from unsuspecting tourists. Hamidovic and his wife are believed to have accumulated around €2 million, much of it hidden abroad. Their son, Roberto Jr., 22, was reported to oversee the pickpocket operations, using taxis to transport the children to various locations. Despite their criminal activities, most family members are illiterate and have limited formal education. Guillet emphasized the cycle of exploitation, noting that many of the children who were forced to steal as children later became exploiters themselves. She called for strict sentences and international cooperation to break the cycle and prevent further harm.