Gang of lawyers and forgers who used fake stamps and banknotes in courts busted: 6 arrests

Executed by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Naples, 6 precautionary measures were taken against as many members of a criminal organization responsible for counterfeiting, introduction into the territory of the State, possession and circulation of counterfeit banknotes and stamped paper and aggravated fraud against the State and 5 searches of as many people. The investigation, conventionally called "Il Rosso", started in October 2016 and aimed at combating a well-organized and structured criminal group, operating in the Campania area in the production and distribution of counterfeit stamped paper and banknotes, follows four other important operations in the specific sector of counterfeit stamped paper, "Marche Legali" in November 2014, "Cicero" in July 2015, "Falco" in December 2016 and "Toghe Pulite" in July 2017.

The development of the investigations, delegated to the Carabinieri Anti-Counterfeiting Monetary Command by the Deputy Prosecutor at the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office, Dr. Giuseppe Cimmarotta, has allowed us to reconstruct a new channel for the diffusion of counterfeit brands, filed with the TAR of Naples, the judicial offices, the Public Automobile Registry and the Motorization of the provinces of Naples and Caserta, with a high financial damage currently being quantified.

The investigative activity has allowed over time to: locate two clandestine laboratories set up for the production of counterfeit revenue stamps; arrest in flagrante delicto the four counterfeiters found in possession of equipment and material suitable for the production of counterfeit revenue stamps; report at liberty two people responsible for the possession and distribution of counterfeit telematic stamps; arrest a person found in possession of 249 counterfeit 50 euro banknotes. Among the various members of the organization, which operated in the provinces of Naples and Caserta, there are 6 lawyers from the Naples and Avellino courts and 5 owners of car agencies, who have consistently used counterfeit revenue stamps at the aforementioned offices.