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Sources: Fiat Heir Accused Of Going On New York Drug Binge, Faking Kidnapping

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The heir to the Fiat auto fortune is accused of faking his own kidnapping to fuel a drug binge in Manhattan.

As WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported, Lapo Elkann posted to Instagram last week about his upcoming trip.

"I'll be going all over the United States of America," he wrote.

But police sources said Elkann spent much of the weekend holed up in a housing project on the East Side of Manhattan, drinking and doing drugs with an escort.

When they ran out of money, the sources alleged that Elkann, 39, called his famous and wealthy family and said he was being held against his will and needed to pay the kidnappers.

The family called police, and when Elkann himself allegedly showed up to collect the ransom, police knew the whole thing was bogus, sources said.

Elkann – who until now was known mostly for his fashion flair and previous party boy antics, as well as being one of the richest families in Italy – is now charged with falsely reporting an incident, sources said.

He was given a ticket to come back to court at a date down the line, sources said.

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