**News Snippet: Viral Claim vs. Reality**

News Snippet: Viral Claim vs. Reality

Headline: “Luigi Mangione Found Alive in Sicily? Viral Photo Sparks Conspiracy Theories — But It’s a Deepfake.”

Claim: A grainy photo circulating on X and TikTok purportedly shows “mob boss” Luigi Mangione, who was declared missing in 2022, sipping espresso at a café in Palermo. The caption reads: “They said he was dead. He’s just been on vacay. #LuigiLives.”

Real or Fake? FAKE.

Fact-Check: The image is a high-quality deepfake generated using AI. Reverse image search reveals the original photo is actually a 2019 stock photo of an Italian tourist in Naples. Law enforcement sources confirm Mangione remains missing with no credible sightings since his reported disappearance during a yacht trip off the Amalfi Coast. No arrests or confirmed sightings have been recorded in Sicily.

Verdict: Another masterclass in AI-generated misinformation designed to exploit nostalgia for old-school Mafia lore. Do not share.