NNaples – The Court of Appeal of Naples has issued a ruling that marks a turning point in the "The Prince and the Dancing Card" trial, the major investigation by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate that years ago implicated over 60 politicians, administrators, and white-collar criminals from Casal di Principe, accused of ties to the Casalesi clan.
The story, centered on a never-built shopping center "Prince" and due to heavy influence from the clan in the municipal elections, it has seen confirmations, reversals and prescriptions, with five convictions, five acquittals and two positions extinguished due to the statute of limitations or death.
At the center of the investigation is former Undersecretary of the Treasury, Nicola Cosentino, accused of facilitating financing for the never-realized shopping center project in the clan's favor.
Cosentino he was definitively acquitted, while for about fifteen defendants the Court of Cassation had partially annulled the 2017 sentence, referring the case to a new section of the Court of Appeal.
The ruling reshaped the judicial framework, confirming the clan's role in controlling the administrative life of Casal di Principe, but also overturning some convictions.
Among the most significant decisions, the Court reinstated the sentence for former mayor Cipriano Cristiano to 4 years, 2 months, and 20 days (compared to 6 years and 8 months in the first instance). Sentences were also reduced for Luigi Corvino (5 years and 4 months) and Giovanni Lubello, former son-in-law of mafia boss Francesco Bidognetti (3 years and 6 months).
Demetrio Corvino and Arturo Cantiello received lighter sentences, with suspended sentences, (one year and eight months). On the other side, five defendants were fully acquitted: Mirella Cirillo and another, Luigi Corvino (both sentenced to four years in 1), Eleonora Alfieri, Vincenzo Schiavone, and Vincenzo Falconetti.
Luca and Gennaro Diana, however, have expired, while the crimes of Sebastiano Ferraro and Antonio Cantiello have been extinguished due to their deaths. The ruling could close a chapter in one of the most complex investigations into the Caserta Camorra, barring further appeals to the Supreme Court of Cassation.
The trial highlighted the pervasive influence of the clan of the Casalesi, but also the difficulties of translating accusations of collusion into definitive convictions in a complex judicial context.
List of those sentenced:
Cyprian Christian: 4 years, 2 months and 20 days
Luigi Corvino: 5 years and 4 months
John Lubello: 3 years and 6 months
Demetrius Corvinus: 1 year and 8 months (conditional suspension)
Arturo Cantiello: 1 year and 8 months (conditional suspension)
List of acquitted:
Nicola Cosentino
Mirella Cirillo
Luigi Corvino (second defendant of the same name)
Eleonora Alfieri
Vincenzo Schiavone
Vincenzo Falconetti
Prescriptions and extinctions:
Luca Diana (prescription)
Gennaro Diana (prescription)
Sebastiano Ferraro (extinction due to death)
Antonio Cantiello (extinction due to death)
Article published on 12 July 2025 - 20:25
