Avellino – A complex investigation by the Guardia di Finanza, coordinated by the Avellino Public Prosecutor's Office, has uncovered a fraudulent scheme to steal over €14 million in public subsidies from state coffers.
The investigating judge of the Avellino Court has ordered the execution of 42 precautionary measures against as many suspects, believed to be part of a complex network dedicated to the undue collection of public funds, self-laundering, and money laundering.
The size and extent of the seizure
Among the measures issued, one consists of house arrest, while the other 41 individuals were banned from holding managerial or administrative positions in companies and businesses. At the same time, a precautionary seizure of €14.263.514,40 was executed, representing the assessed damage to the treasury.
The investigation focuses on the illegal obtaining of "Super-Ace" tax credits, tax breaks introduced by the Sostegni Decree (Legislative Decree 73/2021) to support the economic growth of businesses.
The fraudulent mechanism: "shell" companies and hidden financial flows
Investigations by the Avellino Economic and Financial Police Unit have uncovered a sophisticated criminal scheme. According to their findings, the scheme relied on the use of 79 companies, spread across the country, which—despite lacking the necessary economic and financial qualifications—were the recipients of public funding.
The illicitly obtained credits were then distributed through a complex round of compensations.
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This pyramid of financial transactions, worth a total of over 336 million euros, had a specific purpose: to hinder the traceability of illicit funds and ultimately make them available to final recipients, who used them to pay off, at least partially, their tax debts.
The Unwitting Deep Throat: The Complaint That Brought the System Down
An investigative paradox provided the decisive impetus for the operation. The investigation was triggered by a complaint filed by one of the suspects. The man likely intended to conceal his actual involvement in the fraudulent scheme by presenting himself as an outsider. However, his statements immediately appeared "inconsistent and unfounded" to the magistrates and financial police.
This attempted diversion, rather than covering up the crime, triggered the "specific investigations" and "technical inquiries" that allowed the entire criminal plot to be uncovered, revealing a completely different picture than the one previously described.
The operation is part of a broader investigative effort by the Avellino Public Prosecutor's Office and the Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police) to combat fraudulent schemes targeting public benefits.
In a statement, the Prosecutor's Office emphasized "their assiduous commitment to combating fraudulent networks aimed at improperly obtaining tax breaks," a crucial activity for ensuring the lawful, transparent, and efficient use of public funds, both national and European, for the benefit of genuine growth in production and employment. The entire affair highlights, once again, that this type of fraud is not a victimless crime, but constitutes direct economic damage to the entire community.
Comments (1)
The article highlights a serious situation regarding tax fraud. It's incredible how such a complex system manages to escape scrutiny. We hope the authorities can clarify the situation and restore legality.