Fake Carabiniere Sentenced for Promises of Jobs at the Vatican

The North Naples Court has sentenced Carmine Cascio, a 36-year-old man accused of fraud and aggravated extortion, to 11 years in prison. According to the prosecution, Cascio posed as a non-commissioned officer in the Carabinieri, a parliamentary official, and a member of the secret service to extort money and valuables from a 51-year-old woman from Frignano, in the Caserta area. He had promised the victim a job for her son at the Papal State.

The prosecutor's office had initially requested seven years in prison for Cascio, but the sentence issued established a heavier penalty. The man, a resident of Ciampino, was arrested by the Carabinieri in Aversa in April 2022 while he was receiving further extortion payments from the victim, in the amount of 300 euros. Over the course of two years, Cascio managed to obtain almost 20 thousand euros in cash and valuables from the woman through several payment installments.

Cascio's demands for payment were motivated by promises to "oil the car" and facilitate the hiring of the victim's son. However, when the woman decided to stop the payments because she realized the promises were false, Cascio allegedly threatened to kill her and her son. The woman reported the man, starting the investigation that led to Cascio's arrest and subsequent trial that resulted in his conviction.